Off the Shelf: Offerings for Hearing Impaired at Library with National Deaf Awareness Month in Full Swing
By Savanna Draper on September 25, 2024 from Off the Shelf
September is National Deaf Awareness Month. During this month, we raise awareness of the culture, language, and history unique to the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, about 13% of the 
United States’ population are deaf or hearing impaired. The first International Day of the Deaf was celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958. The day of awareness was later extended to a full week, becoming the International Week of the Deaf, and we now have a full month to celebrate and advocate for this community.
United States’ population are deaf or hearing impaired. The first International Day of the Deaf was celebrated by the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) in 1958. The day of awareness was later extended to a full week, becoming the International Week of the Deaf, and we now have a full month to celebrate and advocate for this community.
The Bridgeport Public Library offers an American Sign Language (ASL) class every month called Signing Made Easy. American Sign Language is the beautiful language used by the Deaf community. During the class, we practice both expressive and receptive skills while building on vocabulary and Deaf culture. Signers will learn to convey simple to complex and abstract ideas using handshapes, body language, and facial expressions. We use a combination of group teaching, partner practice, videos, and games for learning. Beginners are welcome, and the class is open to all ages.
Our next class will be on Tuesday, October 22 at 5pm. This month will focus on signs related to sports and recreation as well as clothing items. We will also learn idioms used by the Deaf culture. You can register for this class on our website at bplwv.org/events. This class is taught by Shannon Beam. Please reach out to her with any questions at sbeam@bridgeportwv.gov or 304-842-8248 x3.
In addition to our monthly class, we offer two electronic resources for learning ASL, Signing Savvy and Transparent Language. Signing Savvy provides an online visual dictionary along with practice for fingerspelling, numbers, vocabulary, and more. Transparent Language offers what is equal to an American Sign Language course and can be completed at your own pace as well as just skipping around to the areas where you want to concentrate. Both of these resources can be accessed for free with your Bridgeport Public Library card at bplwv.org/languages.
The library also offers several books in fiction and nonfiction written by and about Deaf individuals. We have these books available for all ages, including adult, teen, and children. Some of the titles we have include adult fiction book True Biz by Sara Novic, adult nonfiction book Deaf Utopia: A Memoir and a Love Letter to a Way of Life by Nyle DiMarco, teen fiction book Give Me a Sign by Anna Sortino, and children’s graphic novel El Deafo by Cece Bell.
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