Dear Supporters, First, thank you so much for signing and sharing the petition to bring American Sign Language into the Olentangy Local School District curriculum. Your support means everything. Last Friday, October 3, I had a fabulous conversation with Brandon Lester, OLSD Board President. He was empathetic, thoughtful, and genuinely listened. We had a meaningful, hour-long discussion, and I left feeling confident that our message was heard clearly. I truly believe that if this issue comes across his desk in the future, he’ll remember our conversation and the importance of this initiative. Today at 12:30 PM, I have another scheduled call with Michelle Blackley, Chief Academic Officer for OLSD. My goal is to share both our personal experiences and the districtwide support, as well as highlight a few key facts: • ASL is the 3rd most used language in the U.S., after English and Spanish. • Over 500,000 people in the U.S. use ASL as their primary language. • 2.2 million Ohioans have some form of hearing loss. • ASL is accepted by most U.S. colleges and universities—including Ohio State, Kent State, and Miami University—as a world language credit. • Many neurodivergent students (including those with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism) find ASL more accessible than traditional spoken or written languages. • ASL opens doors to careers in education, healthcare, social work, interpreting, law enforcement, and more, and aligns perfectly with Olentangy’s commitment to equity and inclusion. I’ll keep everyone updated after my call with Michelle. In the meantime, please continue circulating the petition—demonstrating strong community support is essential. Thank you again for your passion and advocacy. Let’s keep this momentum going! Warmly, Brooklyn