Catholic Charities of Kansas City – St. Joseph is excited to share our beginner ASL class. Starting on October 10th, we will offer an ASL class on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at St. Peter’s Parish. These classes will help you learn fingerspelling, vocabulary, and other skills needed to communicate in ASL. 

According to the US Census Bureau Nearly 3.5% of Americans reporting some kind of hearing loss. When communicating with hearing people, those who are deaf resort to methods such as lip reading or writing. ASL is a better, easier, more respectful way to communicate with those with some kind of hearing loss. American Sign Language is also useful when trying to have a quiet conversation, talk across distances, or talk in noisy environments. 

“ASL is the most beautiful language I’ve ever encountered. And I love how joyful those who use ASL to communicate are whenever I can speak their language,” Juliet Mattingly, Marketing Coordinator at Catholic Charities, says of her own experience learning and communicating in ASL.

Seats for the ASL class are limited. Sign up closes on October 5th. Contact Rhonda Scott, Catholic Charities Deaf Coordinator at 1.816.562.2154 or rscott@ccharities.com to sign up today!

Catholic Charities also works with local parishes to offer interpreted Masses. If you need an interpreter for your own special event, email ddm@ccharities.com. 

Sign up for our Deaf and Disabilities newsletter for more information on Catholic Charities’ Deaf and Disabilities Ministry.