ASL Honor Society creates teaching tool to support TOPSoccer staff

Emily Kemper | The Chronicle

The Outreach Program for Soccer (TOPSoccer) aims to provide individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities the opportunity to participate in a team sport. By using their knowledge of sign language, students in the Mason High School (MHS) American Sign Language Honor Society (ASL Honor Society) are helping support this goal of allowing people of all abilities to play soccer in a supportive environment. US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a national program, and Cincinnati TOPSoccer is a local league that adapts to accommodate the needs and abilities of all players, including a separate wheelchair division. Lisa Corey, the Vice President of Cincinnati TOPSoccer, said she originally got involved because her daughter was not keeping up in traditional recreational soccer and would benefit from a program designed to accommodate her needs. Corey said she reached out to the MHS ASL Honor Society because many TOPSoccer players have language delays and learn to sign before they speak, as well as to support players who are hard of hearing or Deaf. Corey said she thought it would be beneficial to players, coaches and buddies — teens and adults who volunteer to assist players — to learn a few basic signs. “It’s beneficial for those volunteers and coaches to have that background that if a child is gesturing, [they] might be able to figure out what it is they want without the parents coming onto the field,” Corey said. “One of the things we try to do for parents is let them be a typical parent at a soccer practice on the sidelines watching, instead of having to be hands-on for that hour.” The ASL Honor Society is creating videos to teach necessary “survival signs,” as well as soccer-specific terms, to TOPSoccer coaches and assistant coaches. Some of these words and phrases include help, water, good job, run, kick, go, stop and many more. ASL Honor Society member and junior Olivia Close said that they created a slideshow that gave a detailed English description of each sign and recorded videos demonstrating the sign from various angles using the green screen in the MHS Dream Center. Close said that she was excited for the opportunity to help others learn ASL, as she thinks it is a skill everyone should learn. “I think that more people should know at least basic sign language, especially when working with kids with disabilities,” Close said. “So I wanted to help out with this project in any way I could to help people become more educated about ASL. The Deaf community is something that many people are not familiar with, and I think that it’s important that we step out of what’s normal for us to learn about other cultures that we might not relate to.” MHS ASL Honor Society Advisor Christie Loucks said that their mission is to support Deaf culture and promote the use of ASL, which they accomplish by doing community service that benefits the Deaf community. Loucks said that seeing a player who may or may not have a hearing loss using ASL can expose other children and families to ASL, spreading awareness and acceptance of the language. “I think it’ll help spread awareness just by being visible,” Loucks said. “The exposure [to ASL] can start a conversation and have others questioning and be interested and curious. It’s like a spark.” ASL Honor Society member Junior Amelia Eshman said that having increased communication through the use of ASL will help to form stronger relationships between staff and players, especially with their buddies. Eshman said that she enjoys interacting with the Deaf community and thinks others should also take the initiative to learn about ASL and Deaf culture to increase communication and form new relationships. “To have that knowledge and awareness is important because if you come across someone [who uses ASL], you can’t rely on them being able to understand you,” Eshman said. “Try to put yourself out there and learn something so that maybe you can understand them.” The TOPSoccer Spring Indoor season begins April 6 and continues through May 18. Corey said that high school students who are compassionate, mature and able to give up one hour on Saturday mornings should consider volunteering as a buddy for TOPSoccer, even if they have no prior knowledge of soccer. Corey said the buddy system is important so that players have not only someone to assist them during games but also a supportive friend who is not a teacher or support person. “It’s a great way to be grateful for what you have and give to somebody who needs a little more support,” Corey said. “We have changed kids and changed what they want to do when they go to college. They decide to go into physical therapy, or special education, or occupational therapy, because these kids touch them.”