Unlike other spoken languages, ASL does not have specific cultural aspects such as a type of food or annual tradition. Sign language evolved and adapted independently across different communities and geographical regions. However, given the rich history and uniqueness of ASL as well as other signed languages such as FSL, BSL, Deutsche Gebärdensprache, and more, there are several significant historical moments as well as current controversies regarding the use of sign language and the state/ rights of the “Deaf,” “deaf,” and “hearing impaired” community which we would perhaps like to explore in our final presentation. Susmita and I will be doing our final presentation together and some of the talking points we have discussed include political correctness within the context of ASL as well as the evolution of signs that might have previously been considered offensive or racist such as the signs for Chinse person or an overweight person, the debate regarding cochlear implants vs hearing aids, the history of Gallaudet and the Deaf President Now (DPN movement) of 1988, as well as a look at the social, economic, and health factors, amidst social inequity as the deaf community have to overcome many challenges to integrate themselves within the present mass public. Since these are more general talking points as opposed to technical ones, we only need a simple understanding of basic ASL words and grammar to engage this topic. Our previously constructed learning plans included a segment for better understanding the historical and modern context of ASL amidst technological developments and globalization. We are interested to see how ASL is further influenced and evolves in this day and age of political correctness and more and more deaf children being integrated into regular classrooms, being forced to use cochlear implants, and being taught by hearing people, as they lose a sense of their culture and self-identity.
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