A lot of people may feel isolated considering that it’s often difficult to converse effectively in American Sign Language with members of the family, peers, and especially strangers. Pertaining to 11-year-old Zoe Tapley, this feeling was unexpectedly prevailed at Disneyland in Anaheim, California.
Zoe is Deaf, and her dad and mom, Jesse and Jeanette, routinely have to interpret conversations on her behalf any time she's out in the general public. Within destinations like amusement parks, the family strolls around enjoying the park with Zoe. Subsequently, they help build awareness to her surroundings. They need to stop occasionally at check-in spots where the family talk about what’s happening around them utilising American Sign Language (ASL).
However, things changed during the family’s 2022 trip to Disneyland. While Zoe and her parents were meeting a variety of Disney characters, Zoe reached out to the actor dressed as Princess Anna coming from the movie Frozen. Zoe signed “Hello” in ASL, and the actor roleplaying Anna immediately observed that Zoe was Deaf. She then looked at Zoe’s mother and father and asked, “Can I sign?” When Zoe’s father Jesse said “Yes,” Anna communicated with Zoe in American Sign Language.
Zoe and Anna then signed together regarding topics including Zoe’s favorite Disneyland rides to how Zoe ended up being adopted coming from the Congo. It absolutely was a great experience for Zoe’s mother and father to see their daughter absolutely enjoying her time at Disneyland by interacting on her own through American Sign Language.
According to her mom Jeanette, it was the very first time she was able to interact with a Disney personality via American Sign Language. Jeanette said it was thrilling to witness her own daughter use ASL with a character at the park. Zoe’s father, Jesse, added in, “It was one of those things where she got to feel the magic rather than being filtered through mom and dad.”
The Reason Why This American Sign Language Experience Matters
Effect on many other Deaf/Hard of Hearing Families as well as on Society at Large
Those who watched the internet video footage of Zoe Tapley signing with Princess Anna at Disneyland got a powerful and inspiring message. Such encounter really make a difference towards the Deaf and Hard of hearing community because they’re empowering. It convey the notion that Deaf/HoH people have an important place in the wider society and are appreciated and included.
An Inspiration for More People to Learn American Sign Language
As many other videos of Disney characters connecting with Deaf/HoH visitors are distributed to a worldwide audience online, Deaf recognition and knowledge of sign language increases. The event can even motivate people to learn sign language physically or by means of online language learning resources like Start ASL. This, consequently, can bring about increased acknowledgement and inclusion for the worldwide Deaf/HOH community.
Opportunity for Other Companies to Follow Suit
The Disney initiative can enthuse other companies to follow suit and recognise the significance of conversing in sign language with Deaf and Hard of hearing individuals. Doing this can start a whole new world of possibilities for every type of businesses in today’s increasingly diverse and interdependent global community.
コメント