High schools in Ontario, Canada, can offer students both American Sign Language (ASL) and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) courses starting September 2021.
“By offering students the chance to learn ASL or LSQ, they can expand their language skills while developing greater understanding of Ontario’s ASL and LSQ culture,” Education Minister Stephen Lecce said in a written statement.
Lecce said they consulted with the ASL and LSQ communities and stakeholders about course content.
“Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer ministry-developed LSQ as a second language curriculum and one of the first jurisdictions to offer ministry-developed ASL as a second language curriculum,” the Education Minister said.
Donald Prong, executive director for the Ontario Association of the Deaf, said the new curriculum is a “step in the right direction.”
“It will enhance students’ understanding of the language and identity of ASL people in Ontario: ASL peoples’ sense of self, of membership, of culture, and of humanity and encourages students to develop respect for human diversity,” he said.
“We want to recognize that the Ministry of Education’s commitment to developing this curriculum is a step in the right direction. We were very pleased to have been asked to participate in its development and we look forward to future opportunities of working together.”
Wanda Blackett, from Silent Voice Canada, said the introduction of these credit courses in Ontario secondary schools will have a “tremendous impact” on the hearing disabled community.
She recognized that there is still much to be done to develop a reserve of qualified instructors to teach the courses.
“LSQ and ASL, in terms of the availability of proficient teachers who could teach at all of the school boards…we are not there yet,” she signed.
“But I think there is possibility for capacity building over the next little while. Certainly we do have teachers available but with this initiative now, I expect that pool will increase over time.”
