West campus news Releases Archive

ASU offers American Sign Language program to Sun City residents

Dec. 28, 2005

Born to deaf parents, Surprise resident Jim Harmonson learned to sign and oralize simultaneously in order to communicate with his family. By the age of three, he was acting as interpreter for both parents.

Now an instructor of American Sign Language (ASL), Harmonson will share his expertise in Sun City for the Osher Lifelong Institute at Arizona State University. His weekly ASL classes begin Feb. 3 and continue through March 17.  Registration begins Jan. 10.

Raised in the Los Angeles area, Harmonson remembers his parents installing a telephone so that he could be contacted to help other deaf people that needed interpreters or assistance. Harmonson’s lifelong interest in the deaf community motivated him to teach deaf children at the Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, as well as classes for parents and grandparents of deaf children in Nevada. In addition, he supervised a group home for deaf and disabled young men.

Harmonson helps his students understand that deafness is not necessarily a disastrous situation. “While one of the senses has been removed, the body gives the deaf person heightened awareness to the other senses,” he said. He will also demonstrate that sign language is visually based. “It is as if you are drawing a picture to the person to whom you are communicating.”