Skip to main content Skip to site utility navigation Skip to main site navigation Skip to site search Skip to footer

Abby Ewing's Story

A group of interpreting students poses behind the Gallaudet University sign, raising one finger in celebration, with blooming trees and campus buildings behind them.
Our class trip to Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C., was an unforgettable and deeply enriching experience for us as interpreting students nearing graduation.

Being fully immersed in the only university in the world specifically designed for Deaf and hard of hearing students allowed us to directly engage with Deaf culture and American Sign Language (ASL), in its most authentic setting. It was especially enlightening to see how the campus was built with Deaf space principles in mind, open and bright with large windows that allow for visual communication, and classrooms designed in a U-shape to promote clear sightlines for signing.

We explored the historic campus, learned from faculty and students, and witnessed how ASL thrives in an academic and social environment. This trip broadened our understanding of Deaf identity and strengthened our commitment to becoming culturally responsive interpreters.

From touring the campus to attending signing events and bonding as a class, every moment helped us grow both personally and professionally.
Top