America is a melting pot of different cultures, languages ​​and people; it is one of the most unique aspects of this country, and also the most fascinating because, despite great differences, we manage to function as one. A key part of this is the ability to communicate effectively with each other. Can you imagine if such a fundamental component of society wasn't available to you? Take it from Helen Keller: “Blindness isolates people from things; deafness separates people from people." According to Hopkins, many Americans are deaf or hard of hearing and experience this sensation described by Keller; in many ways they are treated like foreigners in their own country. American Sign Language (ASL) is the bridge over this communication barrier; with it, we can explore new relationships and experiences, achieve a more complete society and improve working environments. Deafness is defined as a disabling hearing loss of 40 decibels or more (WHO.int), and according to Hopkins, approximately 12.7%, or 30 million Americans meet this criterion. That's 30 million people you may never have the chance to meet. By learning ASL, you create the opportunity to not only form new relationships with people you would otherwise have extreme difficulty communicating with, but also to preserve the relationships you already have. For example, as people age, their hearing declines; in fact, approximately 31% of people between the ages of 40 and 59 suffer from extreme hearing loss (NHIS). From personal experience with my grandfather, I know how frustrating and sometimes downright impossible a simple conversation with him can be due to his hearing problems. Imagine the ease of a conversation if we could simply gesture to each other. There are a few reasons not to learn ASL; certain physiques...are middle of the road...and suffer from low morale." Matthew Foster, a TJC student, echoed this when asked whether more users of ASL would benefit the deaf: “The deaf community can benefit in many ways from people learning ASL. It could help them work in the workplace, have a clear understanding with colleagues and improve careers benefiting all socially, emotionally and economically Works Cited Helen Keller in Scotland: A Personal Record Written by Herself, edited by James Kerr Love (London: Methuen & Co., 1933) National Health Interview Survey, 2007 WHO Media Centre. , “Deafness and Hearing Loss.” WHO Media Center, February 2013. Web. November 2013. Study conducted by Johns Hopkins researchers, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, 14 November effects of poor communication in business." Small business. Media and Web question. 09 December. 2013.