American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation is an important part of communication and inclusivity, and our Upstate students in ASL Interpreting courses have been working to build a stronger bond with the Deaf community. Students in Dr. Lana Cromeenes’s ASL interpreting courses work with the School for the Deaf and Blind in Spartanburg to present plays and movie nights at Upstate with live interpretation.
The South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind serves as the only specialized school for students who are deaf or blind in the state. The relationship between the school and USC Upstate’s ASL program formed about three years ago and has since grown to be a routine alliance between our two schools.
Working with the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind allows USC Upstate to form a bond in our community that might not be filled otherwise. Working to give every member of our community a way to comfortably communicate and participate in community events is important, and that is what the interpretation program is working towards. To fulfill the responsibility of interpretation, we need students who are ready and willing to learn these skills. USC Upstate is proud to work with students to fulfill this responsibility.
Recently, the interpreters led a small Halloween event for 31 students visiting from the school. The event included a movie screening with ASL students interpreting live to great success.
“The students here are so willing to serve, and they love it, and they do a lot of hard work, extra work outside of just sitting in the classroom hours preparing for different events and things like that.”
Dr. Lana Cromeenes
Cromeenes and her students regularly work with the School for the Deaf and Blind to invite students to interpreted events like plays and basketball games. They have worked to build these experiences through helping their communities while building their own experience and skills.
“I think it’s really getting them ready to be team players in their workforce area and building partnerships. It’s giving them confidence, and it’s amazing. So Upstate’s got some really high quality students that are just willing to get out there and be agents of change, changing themselves and helping connect with the Deaf and hearing in any way that we can.”
Dr. Lana Cromeenes
Students who are willing to engage can find community-centered, career-building opportunities like this in their own fields. Helping your community while gaining experience and connections helps everyone grow. Any student interested in finding an opportunity like this in their major or career path should speak to their advisors about service-learning opportunities.