SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Doris Turner passed a measure through the Senate to give students and teachers more materials to learn about American Sign Language.

“We have so many residents across Illinois who are either deaf or hard of hearing who use ASL to communicate,” said Turner (D-Springfield). “If we teach our children about ASL at a young age, we could foster a generation of people who can reach out to those in the deaf and hard-hearing communities.”

As of 2023, there are roughly 50 million U.S. residents who report significant hearing loss or no hearing at all. ASL has become the third most popular language taught in American higher education institutions and is estimated to be used by over 500,000 people in the country. Knowledge of ASL can pose many benefits to students by promoting open mindedness and tolerance toward different experiences and making them more valuable assets to companies once they enter the workforce.

Senate Bill 1920, brought to Turner by a constituent, would require the State Board of Education to encourage school districts to compile educational materials relating to the benefits of ASL and ways to incorporate instruction of ASL into K-8 curriculum.  

“ASL is a valuable social skill to acquire, but like any other language, it is also an asset to have when searching for a quality career,” said Turner. “This bill is about equipping children with skills they can use for the rest of their lives.”

Senate Bill 1920 passed the full Senate with bipartisan support Thursday