My father has severe hearing loss and relies on hearing aids to communicate. When he was in school, ASL wasn’t offered, and as a result, he never had the opportunity to learn it. Even today, most people don’t understand sign language at all. Seeing how limiting that is — not just for him, but for communication in general — has shown me how important ASL truly is.

I also have severe dyslexia, and because of that, I had to be exempt from traditional foreign language classes. This puts students like me at a disadvantage, especially when applying to college. Offering American Sign Language (ASL) as a language option in schools would finally give students like me the chance to learn a language in a way that actually fits how we learn.

American Sign Language is a visual language with unique grammar and word order, completely different from spoken languages. That makes it an ideal option for students who struggle with dyslexia or other language-based learning differences. By introducing ASL as a world-language option, we can create an inclusive learning environment that teaches real communication skills while also fostering understanding and connection with the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.

According to the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health, nearly 466 million people worldwide have disabling hearing loss. Many rely on sign language as a primary mode of communication. By incorporating ASL into school curricula, we can help bridge this communication gap, promote inclusivity, and celebrate linguistic diversity.

ASL is already recognized as a complete and complex language with its own syntax and grammar — just like Spanish, French, or Mandarin. It’s time for education systems to recognize it formally and offer it as an equal world-language credit. Not only would this give millions of students an essential skill, but it would also prepare future generations to communicate with empathy, accessibility, and respect.

The time has come to broaden our understanding of what “world languages” can be. By making ASL a true language option in schools globally, we set the precedent that all forms of communication are valued and that every student — regardless of hearing ability or learning differences — deserves a chance to participate fully in their education.

Please join me in advocating for this necessary change.

Sign this petition and help make ASL a true world-language option in schools everywhere. Together, we can support those who use sign language and give students like me an accessible way to fulfill language requirements.