ASL Club- Bringing Language to Life

The Saint James ASL (American Sign Language) Club welcomed guest speaker, LaShawn Washington to last week’s club meeting. Ms. Washington spoke to the students about growing up deaf and deaf culture. She involved the students in a fun game of ASL telephone, then ended with questions and door prizes of hand-made merchandise.

LaShawn Washington with Mrs. Evelyn Shoults’ ASL club.

Ms. Washington is a native of Richmond, VA. Her biggest achievements during her school years were being a member of the Delta Zeta Sorority during college and participating in several pageants. She was crowned the 1995 Miss Deaf Virginia, her high school homecoming queen in 1996 and the 1997 Miss Washington DC Black Deaf Advocates queen. She graduated from Gallaudet University (a deaf college) with a BA in Social Work. She is currently the president of Alabama Black Deaf Advocates. Before becoming a case manager for the deaf she has been the independent living skills teacher for the deafblind for 5 years. Her hobbies included reading, traveling, spending time with family, hiking, and crafting. LaShawn resides in the Birmingham area with her husband, who is also a case manager for the deaf, and their 3 children.

Ms. LaShawn Washington presenting to the STJ ASL club.

High school clubs meet weekly during advisory time. Over twenty clubs, including service clubs, honor and academic clubs, and special interest clubs, are available to choose from. Extracurricular organizations, like clubs, add to the positive student experience at Saint James. The ASL Club is led by high school art teacher, Mrs. Evelyn Shoults.

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