American Sign Language Could Become For-Credit Course In Schools

Talking with hands is being advocated as a for-credit course in our schools. The Missouri Commission for the Deaf is behind an effort to have American Sign Language designated a distinct language and believes the learning of A.S.L. should fulfill foreign language requirements at colleges and universities. The Commission believes the proposal also would remove what it feels is a second class citizen status of American Sign Language. The move is being championed in the Legislature by State Senator Sarah Steelman of Rolla.