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OCEAN CITY, NJ (November 21, 2019) – Ocean City High School’s American Sign Language Club has invited role model and activist for the deaf-community, Nyle DiMarco, to speak at the Hughes Performing Arts Center on Monday, December 2nd at 9 am.
“Nyle DiMarco, winner of Dancing with the Stars and America’s Next Top Model, empowers audiences to believe they can do and be anything they want in life, no matter the obstacle. He won the mirror ball trophy on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars (Season 22) and was the last model standing on The CW’s America’s Next Top Model (Cycle 22), now Nyle is winning over audiences as an influential leader and ambassador for the deaf community. Born into a multigenerational deaf family, he is an honorary spokesperson for Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K) and founder of the Nyle DiMarco Foundation, which works to improve the lives of deaf people around the world. Nyle was a producing member of the 2018 return to Broadway of Children of a Lesser God starring Joshua Jackson and Lauren Ridloff. Nyle was also a creative collaborator on The ASL App, created by native deaf signers to teach conversational American Sign Language.” according to Keppler Speakers.
Through fundraising efforts, the Ocean City High School American Sign Language Club was able to invite Nyle DiMarco to give a presentation followed by a meet and greet with the students. Ocean City High School American Sign Language students will not be the only students in attendance. The American Sign Language Club extended an invitation to deaf students from other schools in New Jersey. Over 50 students from schools as far as Bergen and Neptune County will be traveling to Ocean City to hear Nyle speak. Some of the students attending will be accompanied by former Ocean City High School American Sign Language students who are now educational interpreters or teachers of the deaf in New Jersey.
“As a hearing ASL teacher, I am committed to modeling for my students how important it is to be an ally and work hand-in-hand with the deaf community, who shares their language and culture with us. Many of my students find a passion, and sometimes a career, through the language and culture of American Sign Language. For my ASL classes, this was a great learning opportunity, in real time, for students to see how to share their privilege, meeting Nyle DiMarco, to empower and elevate the deaf community, specifically children in our area. This was a perfect opportunity for students to give back to a community that has given all of us so much.” said Amy T. Andersen, Ocean City High School American Sign Language Teacher.
Nyle DiMarco is an incredible role model for the deaf community, especially for deaf children, some of whom may have never met a deaf adult, let alone a celebrity. Nyle is more than a celebrity, he is an
advocate for the deaf community’s right to language and he proudly uses American Sign Language, embraces deaf culture, and has dedicated his life to language access and equality for deaf children all over the world. Nyle’s ability to passionately and sincerely show deaf children that they can do and become anything in life will surely leave an impact on everyone in the room.
“I am beyond grateful to the Superintendent and the Principal for supporting me in making this happen. This is truly a once in a lifetime event. To be honest, when they told me I could reach out to schools with programs for deaf children, I cried because after 8 years as a teacher of the deaf, I know how much of an impact this is going to have on everyone in that audience. “ said Amy T. Andersen, Ocean City High School American Sign Language Teacher.
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