LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Students at Ohio State Lima participated in a unique event designed to raise awareness for the deaf community by eliminating spoken communication.
The annual spring event, known as “Deaf Town,” requires participants to rely solely on American Sign Language. Once students arrive, speaking is no longer allowed as they attempt to communicate through ASL at four different stations, including a grocery store, clothing store, travel agency and doctor’s office.
After completing the activity, participants said the experience was eye-opening, giving them a better understanding of the challenges members of the deaf community face every day in a hearing world.
"Some of my students, especially in the Sign 1 classes- they don't know a lot of these signs, and they have a better understanding of what The Deaf have to go through, and it kind of is like 'I really want to be able to communicate with them even more," says Jodi Pierstoff, ASL Lecturer, The Ohio State University at Lima.
Organizers say the engagement does not end there. During the summer months, a Deaf Game Night will bring students and members of the deaf community together for games and a cookout.
