Students record books in sign language

Deaf education students at Barton College used their American Sign Language skills to read and record a series of children's books for the Wilson County Public Library

Dave Dolman, deaf education program coordinator at Barton, said students would typically visit the Eastern North Carolina School for the Deaf for their practicums, but that wasn't possible this past school year because of COVID-19.

"We traditionally would go to the School for the Deaf in which students in a class called Reading to the Deaf would read stories to the deaf children in sign language," Dolman said. "That would be in a classroom, and it would be evaluated by the teacher in the classroom, by the students themselves and by me."

Dolman coordinated with one of his former ASL students, Mary Taylor, who is currently a librarian at the Wilson County Public Library.

Dolman asked his students to choose children's books from a list of categories the library provided.

At first, students used a cellphone to record someone signing the book, said student Kristie Jefferies, a Barton graduate who's working toward licensure in deaf education.

"Then we watched the video, and we read the book to match up the signing," Jefferies said. "That was a little difficult to do because that was our first time doing something like that."

Jeffries said many deaf students are at home due to COVID-19 and aren't able to visit the library.

"It gave them an opportunity to be able to read a book in their language without leaving their home," she said.

Rising senior Crystal Gonzalez, a deaf education major from Fairbanks, Alaska, described the program as fun.

"We were doing it prior, but not with the library, so we were taking a special education class and we made some videos for that teacher as well and we posted them on YouTube," Gonzalez said.

She said the videos run from five minutes to 25 minutes long.

Gonzalez collaborated with Katelyn Brewer to record a book about autism.

"I hope that it helps people get interested about sign language, both for hearing and (for) anybody who doesn't feel comfortable expressing themselves in spoken language," Gonzalez said. "I definitely hope that deaf students can see those videos and have an opportunity to experience other books."

Dolman said the program is a win-win situation for the library.

"I was looking for something that my students could do with the ENCSD not available for us this year," Dolman said.

Taylor said the Little Hands Storytime is every third Saturday at 5 p.m. Because there aren't currently any in-person programs at the library, the book readings will be shared on the library's Facebook page and YouTube channel.

"I think they turned out well, and I am very excited for this opportunity to reach more of the Wilson community through this program," Taylor said. "I hope they can watch the videos."

"Max Explains Everything: Puppy Expert" by Stacy McAnulty is the first book to be read, with signing and narration by Barton student Katelyn Brewer.