The last day of the Winter 2026 semester featured one of the college’s most popular workshops, attended by over 60+ students and faculty, entitled, “Basic American Sign Language For Healthcare Professionals,” featuring the fantastic facilitator, Ms. Ashley Cruzado. This session was conducted in person and also broadcasted virtually via Google Meet.
This initiative was brought to our campus on behalf of the Student American Dental Hygiene Association (SADHA) in an effort to collaborate with students from majors such as Nursing, Healthcare Management, Surgical Technology, Allied Health Sciences, and Medical Assisting. The goal of this introductory class was to promote baseline knowledge that would result in more inclusive care across all healthcare arenas.
The presentation was designed to enhance participants’ awareness of communication barriers faced by Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, while providing foundational skills in basic ASL. Attendees were introduced to common phrases and the ASL alphabet, supporting greater patient-centered communication in clinical settings. Packets were also distributed to further enhance the learner’s practice.
SADHA looks forward to bringing Ms. Cruzado back for a second workshop during the Spring 2026 semester!
