T26S-119 Intro to American Sign Language (ASL)
Tulsa | Available (Membership Required)
Discover a bit of the history of American Sign Language, touch on Deaf culture, and get your hands up and moving! Is ASL a "universal language"? Why do interpreters on television seem to be exaggerating their face and body movements? Are there regional dialects? Learn the answers to these and other questions as you discover more about this beautiful visual language.
Diana Emerson
Diana Emerson is the Community Resources Coordinator at the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Deaf and Elementary Education from the University of Tulsa and a master’s degree in human relations from OU-Tulsa. Diana began her career teaching language arts to hearing children before joining a nonprofit dedicated to serving deaf individuals in 1988. She became a state-certified sign language interpreter in the early 1990s and has been nationally certified for over 20 years through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. With a career spanning 36 years, Diana has worked in community relations roles supporting individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, primarily through the Tulsa Speech and Hearing Association and now at the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. She has also facilitated a monthly support group for individuals who have lost their hearing later in life, a group she credits with enriching her understanding and approach to advocacy and education.