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Speakers urge ASL in schools, staff sign training as Scan Sign pilot proposed
Summary
Public commenters and presenters told the Commission ASL demand is rising and urged adding ASL in schools and basic sign training for staff; University of Hawaii ASL enrollment reportedly rose from fewer than 20 to over 400 in one semester.
Several public commenters and Gisella Tomita (an ASL instructor) urged broader ASL education and staff training during public testimony on March 12, 2026.
Nani Watanabe recommended adding American Sign Language to school curricula, comparing it to language programs such as Hawaiian, Spanish and French and saying early exposure matters for inclusion. Gisella Tomita reported a dramatic rise in ASL enrollment at the University of Hawaii, "from fewer than 20 students to over 400 in a single semester," and recommended that county staff learn basic sign-language skills to reduce barriers.
Commissioners and presenters agreed training and education are important complementary steps to the Scan Sign pilot; the Commission emphasized involving Deaf, hard-of-hearing and deaf-blind community members in planning.
