Sign Language - A language everybody should learn.
This has always baffled me, as the sister of someone with hearing loss, and now an aunt of someone with hearing loss, that sign language isn't taught as standard in schools.
At least it wasn't when I was at school.
We were taught Spanish, German and French, which is great if you are planning on traveling to those places, but why not sign language? We should be able to communicate with those who have hearing loss first and foremost as this is a language that is not only beautiful but necessary in life.
Why would we, as a society, exclude those people when it comes to communication.
Have you ever been in a situation where you have tried to communicate with someone who is deaf? Wouldn't it be nice if we knew how to by being taught it from a young age so that it was just a natural language to us?
We are in a society today where we are being asked to accept different genders, sexuality, and a whole range of different identities from a young generation, but somehow seem to still be ignoring a community that has always been around. Schools are told it is not mandatory for them to teach sign language, but it is advisable for them to acknowledge how a person wishes to identify.
When we are asked to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in a classroom, surely this should include those that are deaf or hard of hearing.
Is there a universal sign language?
Unfortunately, there isn't a universal sign language as different countries developed their own sign language based on their own languages and culture. BSL (British sign language), ASL ( American sign language), and Auslan (Australian sign language) are the most commonly known.
Sign language was once banned in schools
How to learn sign language
