Hearing social media star signs National Anthem at a baseball game; Deaf community reacts

Hearing social media star signs National Anthem at a baseball game; Deaf community reacts
Transcript: www.dailymoth.com/blog/hearing-social-media-star-signs-national-anthem-at-a-baseball-game-deaf-community-reacts

[@Tuilelen]

I find it outrageous that the University of Alabama said they would "CONSIDER" actually contacting people that were actually from the Deaf/HoH community. "CONSIDER"???? WTF. Wtf else would you do? Just wing it and flip the bird again to the entire community? It boggles the mind.

[@MarleneHen]

That was my initial reaction also. But now I'm wondering if they normally do not have anyone interpret or perform the National Anthem.

[@fodonogue3]

Let it also be known that the “performance” she did was copied from Deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank from last year (maybe two years ago…) Pretty much sign for sign, butchered SMF’s rendition and gave NO credit. Even more issue there. Additionally, impersonating an interpreter how she did is a Class C misdemeanour in Alabama.

[@tawanda34]

Thank you for including those of use who don’t know ASL by using subtitles. Learning basics and years to go - So much respect for this community. Sorry this happened-

[@TheDailyMoth]

Edit: We received a direct response from the University of Alabama marketing communication under the athletic department after we posted this story. This is their statement: “The University is committed to ensuring our campus programs and facilities are inclusive and accessible. As part of those efforts, the University offers reasonable accommodations to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and includes American Sign Language courses in its curriculum. We greatly appreciate the feedback we have received about an ASL interpreter that was used during a recent athletic event. We will work to make certain future uses of ASL meet appropriate standards.”

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

Form letter response of course.

[@ncolte8678]

I'm of a hearing community, but I'm confused. In Arkansas, the University, other government agency, etc. is required to get a licensed/certified ASL interpreter. I'm still learning about the Deaf community and have great respect. So my question is it not the same requirement in every State? I'm not an attorney, so another question was the ADA violated on a Federal or State level? I'm hoping these questions were appropriate, and it is not my intention to offend the Community. Thank you

[@MarleneHen]

​@@ncolte8678 I am NOT a legal expert. It is my guess that no Deaf people requested an interpreter for this event. The young lady volunteered to PERFORM the National Anthem. (I don't know what word she used when she volunteered, but what she was doing was performing, not interpreting.) Therefore, I think the university is likely fine legally. I have several hearing kids who go to a local school district in the Rochester area which has a LOT of Deaf people. Based on experience, this is what I believe their policy is: For school-wide events, such as concerts, where CODAs are performing, automatically provide an interpreter. For a play or musical that a CODA is performing in, automatically provide an interpreter for ONE showing. For parent-teacher conferences, contact the Deaf parent and ask if they need an interpreter. For anything that is a school event but a CODA is not performing, the Deaf parent needs to contact the school and request an interpreter. I feel confident that the school district does not provide interpreters for sporting events, even if CODAs are involved. They might if an interpreter is requested. I've never tried that. I hope that's somewhat helpful.

[@MarleneHen]

Not too bad. But I cringe at "reasonable accommodation." I don't know of any Deaf person who has asked for an accommodation that was NOT reasonable. ????? Also, she is NOT "an ASL interpreter." That's a bad error. Phew! I have a feeling they haven't had many Deaf students.

[@javiertorres8]

hearing people poor them. They are desperate to be hearing then to find other way to take deaf culture ( ASL ) ASL sure so rich and gold. Respect our culture!

[@coldbrew974]

Because deaf culture is rich and beautiful maybe this is her way feeling like she belongs or connected.

[@cashwalk7253]

Honestly, it's shameful all around. Shame on the University for not doing a background check on this person. Shame on the content creator showing up to an event untrained and uncertified (and then claim to be an interpreter!) and for continuing to "teach" sign. ASL is not a party trick! Shame that the University didn't reach out to the Deaf community or contact a true interpreter. I'm hearing, but this infuriates me.

[@charlethatatum1796]

!!! RESPECT !!! I am hearing and presently learning ASL again after 20 yrs away from it de to job, transfer of home, family deaths. BUT,God is faithful to restore what we, I value. The Deaf and HoH culture I miss. Now I am more settled in my life and can slowly, and respectfully reach out again. Ty for your exacting and best stated response to the article on the wrongful and insulting video. Sincerely, Charletha

[@coldbrew974]

That's like a first semester Japanese language student teaching a Japanese person how to speak Japanese. I"m curious, does she have friends in the deaf community? Where is she learning these signs?

[@katelynb2913]

Good question. I'm also curious

[@MatthewFeliciano]

ASL is offered at some high schools to satisfy the foreign language requirement. My daughter is taking ASL but there is no way she would try and act as an interpreter or teacher. Her ASL teacher is deaf and the the class also includes instruction on deaf culture and history. Frankly, it is the most useful class she has taken in two years of high school.

[@coldbrew974]

@@deafyoutube7700 My point is someone who doesn't understand the language or the culture should not teach, deaf or hearing.

[@ncolte8678]

Reminds me of a children's game called, gossip. The first person tells another person who tells another person and by the end, it's usually not the same message from the start. You are spot on, who knows where she learned signs from?

[@ncolte8678]

But obviously she didn't get it from an ASL instructor.

[@JohnDoe-oo9ll]

Very interesting topic I'm glad you covered it

[@charlethatatum1796]

!!!! I wholeheartedly support this serious overstepping of cultural and human rights boundaries. iIts about thoughtful awareness and RESPECT of both the individual and the culture. I learned ASL through my church. Very patient women and men, both deaf and HoH helped me. I am profoundly changed in language, my faith and my awareness of the Deaf and HoH community. Twenty years later , though I moved and lost contact with my precious friends, I now am returning to my first language love ASL!!! I am sensitive to the fact all language and culture evolve. And that respect of boundaries and cultural parameters and protocol, trump a persons private self-serving agenda. My goal is to be accepted slowly back into a powerful, intelligent and compassionate culture and share lives, loves, knowledge and engender hope for successful future all people I meet, whether hearing or deaf. Thank you Daily moth and the Deaf and HoH community for reading this long post. Blessings to you all!!

[@christineclick1055]

I know a deaf man who doesn't want to get involved in the hearing world but he's wrong because he doesn't understand hearing world. I disagreed with him. I had experienced with hearing classmates when I was in high school. They don't know the sign language. It was hard on me. I was struggled listening by wearing hearing aids. I was only one hard of hearing student at high school. Classmates and underclassmates at my high school are all hearing. I was the first multi-handicapped student to be graduated from a public high school. My former high school principal wrote a part of chapter in his book about me. He was a hearing, too. When I found out he wrote a book, I was surprised. Deaf Community, stop fighting with hearing world. Hearing people want to learn a sign language. It's their decision. I want a hearing world and deaf world to be friends together. Lola likes to learn a sign language very much. I think she's not stealing ASL from deaf world. She tried the best she can. I don't know if Lola would one day be a certified interpreter if she takes a college course to study ASL in the future so she can correct ASL the way. It's up to her decision.

[@luvrlo]

If her “best” is teaching asl wrong to over 200K people on social media and blocking the deaf/HoH community when we’ve tried to help, and then going after opportunities that are *literally* meant for deaf people when she’s not deaf OR educationally qualified, I’d hate to see what her negligence looks like. She is profiting everyday off of her accounts that spread misinformation that can be seriously dangerous in some situations and continues to do it despite being asked by *an entire community* to just do better, but no. *As long as there are hearing people who take advantage of ASL and deaf culture, we will keep trying to educate the hearing world about it.*

[@MarleneHen]

Yes, I'm thinking along similar lines and plan to write an encouraging message to Lola once I'm done going through these. She just needs to learn. She's young.

[@j.l.5935]

What, Lola! She's very jealous of deaf community as her ego. University of Alabama shall know better, also contact deaf community by phone book or check online! NO EXCUSE AT ALL!!!

[@cashwalk7253]

Exactly! They should have run a background check--things like that can get people killed.

[@johnhancock8463]

Thank you very helpful

[@PreachTh3Truth]

What she’s doing with some signs is doing straight English translation when asl is much more expressive

[@sexychicana]

Wow she’s big trouble with sign language where did her from ?

[@GreatBigBore]

Wait. Yes, she needs to stop what she's doing, yes it's causing a lot of harm. But really, what she's doing is "subjugating", on a par with slavery? Come on. She's wrong, badly, horribly wrong, but she's not a war criminal. She's a kid. Her brain isn't even finished forming. And internet fame is intoxicating, even for adults.

[@ncolte8678]

I'm not of the deaf community. My husband has no hearing in his left ear without hearing aid. I have bi-lateral hearing loss. So I guess we're both hard of hearing community. I took an ASL semester after graduating to learn more about the language and culture because I had a college professor tell my class (and I apologize in advance for repeating this) that 'deaf people were bad parents'. So I wanted to learn for myself so I enrolled in a different college and took post-bacc. semester of ASL and oral communication. I learned so much rich history about the community, read great books by ASL authors and met so many great people of the deaf community that I was able to affirm fast that the professor's comment was wrong! I'm wondering about this ASL National Anthem story, if The Daily Moth has contacted the State's Department of licensure or certification? Surely if someone if falsely presenting credentials, would there be consequences like fines or time? What if this person faked ASL interpreting in an emergency situation? What if someone got hurt by wrong signs/translations and/or worse? I shudder to think. Did anyone contact the University of Alabama about this? I'm in no way fluent after taking only a semester of ASL 30 years ago, but the ASL professors taught us/students like beginning ASL etiquette: like if you're hearing, don't give yourself a sign name. And if you know a few signs and you see someone signing, it is polite to let them know you sign or they make think you are eavesdropping. I'm not certain if things have changed from 30 years ago from my ASL professors, or maybe it is regional (?) What nerve that someone from the Hearing community is being a Karen and an Imposter, trying to be the unasked Spokesperson. Thank you, The Daily Moth, for the great, professional news source. It is riveting, and I'm learning so much everyday.

[@MarleneHen]

(I replied to your message up above about my gut feeling as far as my GUESS about the university's level of liability.)

[@theresadurham8857]

I am sorry that your college professor told you and your classmates that Deaf people are bad parents. You had a bad professor who taught people wrongly in a harsh way. Why would your professor teach ASL, hating Deaf people? It did not make any sense as to that he was planting the seed of meanness into the students so they could be mean to Deaf people as well.

[@MarleneHen]

@@theresadurham8857 She was saying a different professor previously said that and that's why she took the ASL course. You're right - it's such an inappropriate remark!

[@davidcoria9264]

Lola can't have the rights to priviledge ASL on her own language! She is disrepect other deaf communities. That's sounds her insulting our deaf cultures. 🤬 I am warning Lola if she thinks deaf people are cheap, deaf people will face to face and brawl her out! I really mean it! I am proud of being deaf person! End of discussion! Period! No playing games!

[@arlettatoland8756]

That is deaf cultures! And we need perfect asl!

[@mdjones905]

The hearing world has always practiced audism and always will. Yes, I’m deaf and proud of it.

[@jerichojohnsmith1865]

I want to tell you why not you can talk to the National Association deaf sue to a lady young sign language also charges face her.

[@marshallharris3872]

The fact that she never took down her account and just posts an “I’m not a teacher” as a “disclaimer” is telling. It shows she still wants the attention.

[@GreatBigBore]

Ok, but there's nothing wrong with wanting attention or doing things to get attention. Yes she's totally wrong and should change what she's doing, but not for wanting attention or trying to get it. That's normal, even if it is cringe-inducing. Plus she's in high school, not even really finished with adolescence--in other words, she's basically mentally ill for at least another 6-8 years

[@emileejohnson7542]

It's quite offensive she represented herself as Sign language interpreter, it's hard work to be certified. The Grammer, code of ethics, learning the different signs for one word, for example, running, is the motor running? Or is it your nose is running, or the water running, a person running, that's registering. The intense tests NAD, EIPA interpreting.

[@arthurchallis7717]

Why not report it instagram about it?

[@nayeyoshira2023]

I did report instagram

[@fodonogue3]

SM is notoriously terrible at actually listening to the communities who are impacted negatively. I get threats constantly and not once has any SM platform done anything about it. Wouldn’t expect them to start now.

[@MarleneHen]

It's an interesting idea. "This content is being poorly presented and/or represented." But so difficult to draw the line, and I doubt that SM sites have the resources to police something like this. I'm inclined to think that it's not something they can do.

[@PACXPAW]

Lola makes a lot of money by teaching asl haha.

[@macdaddy11]

Sue Alabama university

[@mandoamaya821]

Better simple any one who has had a certified asl from any college then they are illegal use and hope deaf community can get file for complaints against Em any use network. I trying to help out for guys am deaf too not be fool . Something learn challenge with em .

[@TheDad281]

Most deaf people have immediate family members that are hearing people. So they have the same culture. Lola is not like Sean Forbes who makes money rapping. There is nothing wrong with competent Hearing people teaching ASL. Don’t Discriminate

[@fenishes]

Ok, I'm going to espress what I know will be contrary to popular opinion here, but I do so with utmost respect and honesty. I'm a hearing man, who has been studying ASL for many years. I was initially interested in sign solely as a language but as I studied with deaf teachers and learned about deaf culture, I acquired a level of understanding and respect for it, and I now can appreciate the ways in which language and culture are so intertwined within the deaf community. That said, I'm also for free speech. As much as I would personally never teach myself sign from a high school social media person, I believe that people should have the right to post and express whatever they want online and in person. There are many people who are studying a topic, and as a way to reinforce what they love to study, they teach it to others. I'm not a biologist or a teacher but I have made KZbin videos teaching biology many years ago. That said, she obviously should not be put in an interpreting position. This is the first I have heard of this story and I do not know all the facts.

[@fodonogue3]

Free speech is fine but her taking on and STEALING from the Deaf community will NEVER be acceptable. We as hearing people are GUESTS in the Deaf community, we are GUESTS to ASL, and we do NOT get to dictate how the community feels about anything. Our responsibility is to pay attention to DEAF conversations and learn from them, know our place, and call out others on their shit. Lola has no place to teach, period. This is so heavily intertwined with a culture she knows nothing about, with a history of oppression and literal *abuse* that she completely ignores, and she does this for views. It’s disgusting and is NOT okay, no matter how anyone tries to paint it. Do not defend her actions. You become part of the issue when you do. Period. End of.

[@deliamak]

Free speech is fine in general, BUT when it comes to the life of Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people,... come on! Those hearing people can be liable for teaching wrong signs. Their followers (for example: healthcare workers or any employees in the hospital industry) learn the wrong signs and attempt to communicate with Deaf / deaf / HoH people in unfortunate situations such as life-threatening accident. They are prone to unintentionally kill them because they are more likely slow at their receptive skills, misunderstand what they say, or they have difficult miscommunication. Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people can die right there on the scene. Another example-- Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people could have been taken to the jail because their followers simply misunderstood what they said. The domino effect of misunderstanding can happen to Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people after they are found innocent. They might not be able to get their life back. Who would pay for that? There is no way for their followers to know the difference between wrong signs and correct signs since they only follow those hearing influencers. My question is, would their followers do their research to see if the signs are correct? It is more likely no. My other question is, would their followers invest their time in socializing with Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people in order to improve their sign language skills? It is more likely no. Social media is super easy because all you do is to follow an influencer and simply watch upcoming videos or sign up for their ASL courses. So, I would say that it's reckless of hearing influencers teaching wrong signs and refusing to listen to Deaf / deaf / HoH / deaf blind / deaf disabled people.

[@MarleneHen]

I understand what you're saying. People who want to develop a certain skill motivate themselves by recording their journey. Ultimately, SM is for socializing and entertainment, even though you can find a lot of useful information. That being said, my personal opinion is that she would be much better off to stop posting ASL videos and become active in the Deaf community in some way. Apply for a part time position at a Deaf school. Join a Deaf club. Join a Deaf church. Something like that. That will, in the long run, not clutter SM with inaccurate ASL videos. Or to have Zoom meetings to practice with her fellow ASL classmates.

[@fenishes]

@@fodonogue3 if you truly believe in free speech then you should not condone a culture war to "cancel" someone and punish them for sharing their knowledge or expressing anything online. The only time I would call this "Stealing" is if she was making money using a false credential. If she doesn't call herself a teacher and admits to being a student herself, then she can create all the "educational" videos she wants. Personally I've chose to study ASL only with deaf teachers, but if others' like her videos and enjoy learning some signs, I see that as overall a good thing as it brings even more awareness of how cool ASL is to a wider audience. Go ahead and let the first year japanese student make japanese videos too! So long as that student is not making money representing themselves as a Japanese teacher!

[@fodonogue3]

@@fenishes doesn’t matter if she doesn’t attach the label “teacher”, that is what she is doing. She removed access at a PUNLIC event for clout. She is spreading misinformation. She will ultimately get someone killed because of her actions. The Deaf community has spoken, PERIOD. There is NO excuse. Learn to sign, learn to be an interpreter- fine, but she is NOT allowed to teach, she is NOT allowed to go and interpret when she has NO training, NO credential, NO education. Period. Do NOT defend her because then you are complicit in the abuse, in the harassment, and in the deprivation of rights of a community who is STILL fighting for them. She is MAKING MONEY FROM THIS AND CONTINUING TO HARM THE DEAF COMMUNITY- NO EXCUSE, END OF.

[@saltyshieldmaiden]

🤦‍♀️Sound like victimhood, why care so much make big deals. She obviously has passion for ASL. Yes she should not be in terp position not completed terp certified but other issue posting teaching? Big deal! It’s important spread knowledge ASL and communication between Deaf and hearing. Why is this problem?! Should encourage.

[@fodonogue3]

If you don’t understand what the issue is, you’ve got no place to speak on it. Deaf community gets say, and majority says NO. End of.

[@bluedarkness7125]

But her sign seem so inefficient and not accurate to teach or interpret ASL. She are fake teacher/fake interpreter. No different from liar or spammer.

[@bluedarkness7125]

And she should take class and pass test first to get license or two if she want be teacher too. I usually rate asl interpreter based on how they sign and properly. It usually S, A, B, or C. A or B are that I meet quite commonly. S is so amazing that I am falling in love! As for C, I will say it is bit rough and more likely to robot but it is still highly accurate. As for D, E, F; they can’t be interpreter due to inaccuracy, F is most worse. That woman is close to F. And to be teacher, they should has A or above. S and A can become teacher B and C can become interpreter D and below cannot take that role unless they wish to call as liar or spammer. D only get lightly trouble. As for F, is it darned deep trouble for her. Especially when her personality doubles trouble what she already receives. Most deaf people I meet include myself seem like that B as minimum.

[@saltyshieldmaiden]

@Deaf KZbin Im not support her exactly this first news to me about this as I guess need watch see her more ASL skill make judgment but my understanding she post disclaimers says not teacher and learning? Clip show here seem not bad clearly amateur level skill yes but not wrong sign only ugly sloppy clear lack skill. many everywhere do same why target her only? National anthem I think wrong yes for sure wrong to do her skill not yet capable as well as disrespect to USA country our anthem must best performance hers is offensive yes I agree. Not sure she sign correct actually I need see full. I notice many hearing new learning ASL post social media as practice see themselves also feedback community. True she should not ignore and learning from mistakes. She’s clearly hard head not accept criticism. I still not see need to make big deal as hearing learn from highly skill and ASL interpret certified still make mistake and we correct as meet them tell them it’s wrong and assist their learning progress. Some accept as make correct their sign, others continue no difference. Just my opinion waste energy she not want to learn why try let her learn hard way in community maybe she wake up change.

[@saltyshieldmaiden]

@@fodonogue3 obvious yes majority rules I’m just say it’s wasted energy and not worth to work up on it. Yes bring attention light shed on it after that done move on.

[@estherconiglio7818]

As deaf, if I met one of my friends who is posting a different language on social media, I would tell them that they are playing with fire. If they are ignoring it, it would get bigger and bigger ❤️‍🩹