In the Fall 2015 semester, Elizabethtown College will be offering ASL 105: Social Participation and Communication in the Deaf Community: American Sign Language, to all students. This means of communication is often overlooked when schools solidify their language departments. Etown sophomore Tyler Latshaw has made sure that Etown does not follow suit.

Latshaw first considered creating this course when asked by a student in his peer group whether the college offered an ASL class. At that point, the college had a two-credit course, ASL 325, and was discontinued when the professor retired.

This event was the catalyst for Latshaw’s push for an American Sign Language class. The goal was for the course to fulfill part of the core program, the root of a uniquely Etown education.

The process of turning this idea into a reality was long and complicated, according to Latshaw. He estimated that the amount of time it took him and his group of student supporters to finally establish this class was a year and a half.

Latshaw contacted three different departments — Modern Languages, Education and Occupational Therapy — to attempt to gain the support of Etown professors. The Occupational Therapy department saw the need for this class.

Dr. Nancy Carlson, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, teamed up with the students to research how other schools were making an American Sign Language class a reality on their campus. After hours of research and discussion, Latshaw and Carlson drafted a proposal, formed a tentative syllabus and submitted the class information for review by the Etown College Board.

The class counts as a Modern Language and a Signature Learning Experience. In this course, students will immerse themselves in the deaf culture and will not be able to verbalize any questions.

“This seems scary,” said Latshaw. But this method is proven to yield very successful results and students are always able to write down or act out any questions they might have.

Latshaw and members of Student Senate were able to design some of the curriculum for this course. Latshaw said that students will complete 15 hours of work outside of the classroom that will aid in their experience of the deaf culture.

“Creating a deaf music video, being deaf for a day, watching a deaf movie or play, or going to a ‘deaf hour’ at a coffee shop,” Latshaw said, will count as ways to complete these 15 hours. Students will gain an understanding of the struggles deaf individuals have to face every day and learn to converse with people whose form of communication most institutions tend to overlook.

After almost a year and a half of discussion and revisions, the course will finally be ready to offer Etown students next fall. Latshaw shared his excitement for this new class and said that he has gotten very positive feedback from his peers regarding the addition of this class to the Etown course catalogue.

Latshaw expressed his gratitude for the administrators and faculty members who provided him with the backing and support he needed to make this class a reality.

All students have the option of registering for this course next semester.