ASL Club is championed by student at STEM Lab

After learning about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, third grade student Ayla Marberry, felt a strong connection to Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. She reflected deeply on how this goal applies to individuals with disabilities and the importance of creating spaces where everyone feels included and valued. Motivated by her own experiences, she decided to take action by starting an American Sign Language (ASL) Club at her school. Her goal was to help bridge the communication gap between hearing and Deaf students, fostering a greater sense of belonging and understanding within the school community.

"I myself have a disability. My brain works differently than other people and I know how it can feel to be left out of things or not feel like I belong because of my disability," she shared. "I thought that starting a sign language club would help some people with disabilities feel like they belong and it would help everyone to seek to understand people who are different than them."

Her leadership and empathy are powerful examples of how young people can drive meaningful change in our community.

Special thanks to the STEM Lab community for submitting this Five Star Story.

This story exemplifies our ELEVATE Focus Area: 21st Century Learners. Sharing stories of students who collaborate, think critically, problem-solve and are digitally literate to thrive in today’s ever-changing world.