Paula Del Rio, Director of Religious Exploration
Embracing Inclusivity: Teaching Children ASL in Religious Education
At High Street, we believe in nurturing compassionate, curious, and inclusive
individuals. This month, our Religious Education (RE) program is taking a pause from
our Word of Blessings regular hands-on cooking adventures and embarking on an
exciting journey to deepen our commitment to inclusivity by introducing American Sign
Language (ASL) to our children. Over the next three Sundays, our children will have the
opportunity to learn the basics of ASL, explore the beauty of Deaf culture, and reflect on
the importance of communication and connection in our diverse world.
Why ASL?
As the current administration dismantles DEI, we are called to practice our radical
hospitality in more way than ever. ASL is more than just a language, it’s a bridge to
understanding and inclusion. By learning ASL, our children will not only gain a new skill
but also develop empathy and awareness for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community.
This aligns with our Unitarian Universalist core values of Justice, Equity, Transformation,
Pluralism, Independence, and Generosity.
As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that every small step toward
understanding and connection brings us closer to the beloved community we strive to
create.
What to Expect Over the Next Few Sundays
- February 23: What does it mean to be capital D Deaf, the children will learn
the meaning of Deafness, vocabulary related to the Deaf experience, and cultural
differences between Deaf and Hearing people in the United States and we will
discuss what is equity? And how can we use our knowledge to fight injustice. - March 2: ASL Survival signs, we will learn survival level ASL, including: the
ASL alphabet, how to introduce themselves, how to ask someone for their name
and how they are, where they are from, and if they need help. We will talk about
how communication in different languages transforms us. - March 9: Singing with your hands, will learn the song “This Joy That I Have” in
ASL. Making music accessible shows our love for people how are different from
us and we can’t wait to share this song with the congregation! - March 16: Sangha
- March 23: Intergenerational Service
- March 30: Caprese Salad Skewers, we will celebrate spring with a new life,
seeds, greens and milk products are seen as representing this time of year. We
use cherry tomatoes (seeds), basil (greens) and fresh mozzarella in this recipe.
A Message of Gratitude
I am deeply grateful to Tucker Skipper for volunteering to make this program possible.
Their dedication to fostering a spirit of inclusion and curiosity in our children is a
testament to the values we hold dear as a Unitarian Universalist community. I met
Tucker years ago when they were part of High Street’s GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance)
youth group, I can express how happy I am to have him back home!
With love and gratitude,
Paula Del Rio – DRE