American Sign Language Essay

American Sign Language (ASL) can be found everywhere you go. Perhaps you will meet the Deaf worker at Walmart, or you have a friend that is hard of hearing, or you often interact with the Deaf ASL teacher at your local high school. You can find ASL in television commercials, television shows, movies, and reality TV. Just like any language, you will likely encounter ASL at some point in your life. “From education and healthcare to customer service and the arts, there is no shortage of demand for ASL interpreters and speakers'' (Top 10 careers for American Sign Language Speakers). There are many careers that utilize the use of sign language: From being an ASL interpreter to a teacher to a social worker, there is a growing variety of opportunities

Working in a school system, for example, there is a high chance you could use it in conjunction with a spoken language. There could be a Deaf student, a Deaf teacher, or an ASL class the students have the opportunity to take. Working in a school system also comes with multiple standards-based requirements that are evolving everyday, but the base standard requirement is a Bachelor's degree. Although knowing ASL is not a requirement as a school teacher, it looks really good on a resume. Another area in which ASL could be well-utilized is social work. If there was a Deaf patient, for example, it would be necessary for someone to know ASL to allow for proper communication. Jessica Holton is a social worker who often worked with deaf and hard of hearing patients, “When I worked at the treatment center, I was the main therapist or counselor who worked with the Deaf clients, both male and female” (“Jessica Holton on Working With Clients Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing”). The requirements to be a social worker vary in almost every state. In Ohio, you have to complete a degree in social work from an accredited program, then complete the licenced social work application process, pass an exam, and pass criminal background

ASL will be highly utilized for this career path, and it will be very beneficial as I enter the field of education. There are many students in the public school system that are not given the proper and equal access they need to learn because they are Deaf or hard of hearing. I will be able to advocate for students who need such services, and have the ability and skills to work one on one with them because I know ASL. I will be able to teach children without hearing disabilities ASL in order for them to communicate more efficiently with their Deaf peers, creating a more inclusive learning and social