Pacelli American Sign Language Students Sign National Anthem in honor of Deaf Awareness Month

By Mike Haskey
Ledger-Enquirer

Students at St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School put their sign language skills to good use Friday night while also raising awareness that September is Deaf Awareness Month. Under the guidance of Erica Bethea, the American Sign Language teacher at Pacelli, students Erynn Amedee and Olivia Sandoval signed "The Star-Spangled Banner" prior to Pacelli's home football game against Whitefield Academy. "I want them to be comfortable in interacting with more deaf people," Bethea said, "There are deaf people in our population here within Columbus that work at gas stations, grocery stores, our local vending places, and for them to have the skills to be able to, confidently communicate with our deaf and hard of hearing population, it does my heart good."

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