Learning the language of inclusion: HCC American Sign Language students champion Deaf awareness

On a Sunday afternoon, when the restaurant is typically closed, the Chick-fil-A in Deer Park opened its doors to students from the Houston City College (HCC) Interpreting Training/American Sign Language (ASL) program. 

Ten student members of the ASL Honor Society were there to teach the language of inclusion—showing hearing employees how to communicate with their four Deaf co-workers. 

For the HCC students, it was community service, professional training and something far more personal all at once. 

For Max Vega, a Deaf Chick-fil-A employee, the lesson carried real weight.

“It’s very valuable to know American Sign Language to communicate. It’s critical,” Vega shared through an interpreter. “It helps me feel connected with others. People can and should learn American Sign Language.”

Every day, Deaf individuals navigate a world of communication breakdowns, often unable to easily communicate to their hearing bosses and co-workers how they feel, what they want and what they need. The ASL program prepares students for entry-level employment in the interpreting profession, building effective communication skills, cultural understanding and practical interpreting techniques needed to work with Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals. 

According to American Community Survey-based disability data, approximately 2.5% of Harris County residents are reported as being deaf or having serious difficulty hearing. Using Harris County’s recent population estimate of about 4.84 million, that equals roughly 121,000 people in Harris County.

“Our goal is for belonging and inclusion,” said Roxann Barrera-Coffman, instructor, American Sign Language/Interpreting. 

On this day, the solution was to bring the language directly to the employees at Chick-fil-A. 

“We wanted the Deaf employees there to feel more included and create an inclusive environment for them. Things as simple as signing ‘good morning’ to a Deaf person will make them feel seen,” Barrera-Coffman added. 

HCC ASL student Jeremy Karnopp described the joy of seeing hearing employees encounter a language built entirely on gesture and movement.

“We want to merge the deaf and hearing worlds,” Karnopp said. “It’s very cool to see people start to understand the basics of sign language. It’s so different from other languages.” 

Diana Foote entered the HCC program reserved and unsure of herself, but that has changed.

“Going through the program and meeting different instructors, I created a support system,” she shared. “It helped me come out of my shell and trust my abilities.” 

Kennedi Douglas, honor society secretary, was moved by something she witnessed during the session: Employees who had just learned a handful of signs began using them with each other—not just with their Deaf colleagues.  

“Having access in college is one thing but being able to go out and give people more access to communicate with their co-workers is something I feel blessed to be able to do,” Douglas said. “Access to language is what brings people together and what leads to connection.” 

Barrera-Coffman sees the experience at Chick-fil-A as the beginning of something much larger. “It’s about spreading awareness about sign language, about the culture and about Deaf history,” she said.

Karnopp believes this kind of outreach is central to becoming a professional interpreter. 

“This experience has been a massive help with my growth, and we all encourage each other so we can all become better interpreters.”

To learn more about the HCC ASL program, visit hccs.edu/interpreting.

Max Vega, a Deaf employee at Chick-fil-A, was part of the American Sign Language lesson provided by students in the HCC ASL Honor Society.

Students in the HCC American Sign Language Honor Society teach sign language to employees at Chick-fil-A.