Parents, advocates call for more emphasis on ASL in Alaskan Schools

The Deaf Bilingual Coalition says teachers often don't have the background they need in American Sign Language. (Jonathan Hartford/KTUU-DT)

Parents of students with hearing impairments in Alaska are seeking an increased emphasis on American Sign Language instruction in schools. Members of the Deaf Bilingual Coalition and other advocacy groups say more teachers need to be trained in ASL so that students who cannot hear can become bilingual -- proficient in English and ASL -- with the ability to communicate easily and maintain their identity as a person with hearing impairments. KTUU-TV (Anchorage, Alaska)