Signed languages depend on physical hand and body movements as well as unique facial expressions to communicate ideas. Through exposure to such a different linguistic experience, students gain an excellent means through which to shed insecurities often associated with physical movement and practice interpersonal communication skills by interacting with local Deaf community members at mandatory social events. In addition, the progression of signing skills taught throughout the advanced courses of the minor allow for a great deal of practice in presentation skills, proficiency in which can assist success in other academic disciplines at Penn.

By studying ASL, a language primarily used by the Deaf and hard of hearing community in America, in conjunction with studying the culture of the Deaf community, students gain a greater sense of cultural sensitivity and awareness of the complex issues that are associated with minority peoples. Moreover, by studying a group of people that has often been the target of discrimination throughout history, students are able to grasp the complexities of the different freedom movements, rights protests, and accessibility laws that are associated with gaining equality. Such an understanding can help increase awareness of all inequalities in the world and help students pstulate new solutions to current issues, even those not directly related to Deafness.

An ASL/Deaf Studies minor would enrich the diverse environment that composes the University of Pennsylvania. While many languages and cultural groups are already represented both socially and academically at Penn, only a handful of students have been previously exposed to ASL or Deaf culture. Introducing a minor would increase the awareness of this unique community among Penn students. Furthermore, such a demonstration of openness and acceptance towards the Deaf community and signed languages would make Penn more attractive to high achieving Deaf students, whose matriculation would improve the diversity of Penn's student body.

The ASL Program at Penn requires Deaf community involvement from the very first semester of class. With the addition of a minor, however, participating students will be able to effect change in society at large on the various oppressive attitudes, beliefs, and actions against Deaf people through long term, intensive and deeper involvement in the local Deaf community. As part of the Campus Compact, of which Penn is a member, students and faculty are obligated and committed to creating a more active and better citizenry through education. As such, the ASL/Deaf Studies minor includes a robust and involved fieldwork course that is heavily grounded in the Academically Based Community Service philosophies and principles as a culminating requirement and expectation for the minor.

Through the establishment of an official ASL/Deaf Studies minor, Penn would pave the way for many other national and international institutes to develop Sign Language and Deaf culture based minors as it is a leader among various universities. Penn would become the first Ivy League University to have a sign language minor, which would certainly set the precedent for acceptance and cultural diversity among it its fellow institutions. Moreover, an ASL minor allows for study abroad opportunities in both Siena, Italy, a hub for Deaf culture in Europe, and Gallaudet University, the Deaf college in Washington, D.C. By exposing students to international Deaf culture and providing the tools to communicate with the Deaf community in the 20+ countries that are currently using ASL, the advanced studies of the minor would effectively allow Penn students to become efficient multi-lingual and multi-cultural global leaders. 

The higher level of linguistic and cultural learning of the ASl/Deaf Studies minor would allow students pursuing a wide variety of fields to expand their availability as professionals to the Deaf community. By creating physicians, engineers, lawyers, educators and more who can communicate with ease and cultural sensitivity with members of the Deaf community, Penn would be creating an exceptionally well-prepared group of professionals who have been given the tools to increase accessibility of services to Deaf individuals. In addition, Penn students interested in pursuing careers directly involving the Deaf community, for example, as interpreters for the Deaf or advocates for Deaf rights, would have access to a minor that would directly prepare them for further study in the appropriate disciplines, whether for an interpreting program or at a graduate school level.

American Sign Language, like any language, is continually evolving. The introduction of a minor would allow students to follow the evolution of language and its cultural counterpart through a higher level of study. Currently, the Deaf community is experiencing a wide variety of changes due to the many technological advancements that affect Deafness. A minor would allow Penn students the unique opportunity to follow the exciting developments in Deaf culture and observe the direct links between a modern, twenty-first century world and a timeless community.