|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Instructor Kei-Che Randle (left) presents “Sign Language: Stories and Songs” in American Sign Language at Livermore’s Civic Center Library with English interpretation by Apryl Chauhan (right) nearly every month. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Through “Sign Language: Stories and Songs,” Kei-Che Randle highlights the Deaf community and American Sign Language with particular attention to the intersection of being Black and Deaf. (Photo by Jude Strzemp) 
Families craft together at “Sign Language: Stories and Songs.” (Photo by Jude Strzemp)
“The wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round…” educator Kei-Che Randle signed before a half-circle of children and their parents.
The crowd mirrored Randle’s use of American Sign Language, as the classic nursery rhyme played aloud.
It was a Saturday morning in late August at Livermore’s Civic Center Library during a session of “Sign Language: Stories and Songs”.
During events in this bilingual series, Randle — who identifies as a BlackDeaf woman to reflect being both Black and Deaf — presents books, songs and interactive crafts in ASL. The series features interpretation to spoken English by Livermore resident Apryl Chauhan.
Randle also presents story times in other cities, but Livermore is the only location offered on a consistent and ongoing basis.
While no session will be offered in September during Deaf Awareness Month, Randle is set to return to the library during October for another “Sign Language: Stories and Songs”.
“It’s not just story time,” Randle told the Pleasanton Weekly. “We are building a community. We are empowering. We are uplifting. We are really trying to infuse joy through language and culture and expand on opportunities to do that.”
The monthly program first kicked off Sept. 16, 2023, according to librarian Caitlyn Lung.
At the time, Lung read books aloud as Chauhan interpreted the story into ASL. But as Chauhan explained, she always aimed to have the events become Deaf-led.
“I too felt the same need for representation of Deaf people leading the space, specifically related to ASL,” Randle said.
By Feb. 10, 2024, Randle began leading the program, driven by a desire to expose families to the Deaf community and ASL with a particular spotlight on BlackDeaf representation.
“Growing up, I didn’t have access to that kind of representation,” Randle said. “So when I come, I feel like I’m healing the young Kei-Che too.”
In her youth, Randle was oral and labeled as hard of hearing by her family. She later took ASL classes in college and visited Jamaica, where she felt accepted within the BlackDeaf community.
It’s vital for Deaf students who are Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) to see “they can too”, Randle explained.
“It’s personal for me to make sure that Deaf children have access to representation and hearing families have access to learning ASL,” Randle added.
As for the series’ shift to offering ASL as the primary language, Lung said, “The transition for doing that has been fantastic and I’m very glad to be able to offer this to our community.”
Over the years, Randle has shared picture books including “Saturday” and “Thank You, Omu!” by Oge Mora as well as “The Serious Goose” by Jimmy Kimmel.
Anytime Randle finds a deaf author or book about deafness, she says she works to include it in the story time.
“That’s why we’re here!” Randle explained.
She also spotlights books featuring BIPOC children.
As the founder and CEO of Steps to Enhance People Signing, Randle aims to bridge the gap between Deaf and hearing communities with Black representation of ASL through music and storytelling.
Through STEPS, she conducts events and camps and provides mentorship opportunities and community advocacy.
In addition to her storytelling and song work in Livermore, Randle serves locations including Concord, Oakland, Union City and San Mateo County libraries.
Randle also spearheads the Black Deaf Students Matter movement to amplify the need for support with language access, representation and culturally appropriate interpreters.
On Aug. 23, special guest and author Vielka Montout shared “Shayla Boo and You: All About My Hearing Book.” Meanwhile, Randle presented the story of Shayla Boo in ASL to attendees.
“The Deaf community are passionately wanting hearing people to learn to sign,” Randle said.
She hopes that people transfer the skills they learn during story time to their everyday lives.
“You never know when you will meet someone who is Deaf,” Randle said. “And Deaf doesn’t look like a certain type of person, so it is our duty to make sure that we are well-versed in English and ASL.”
Livermore resident Martha Chan, who attended the event Aug. 23 with her two hearing children, said she enjoyed the experience.
Chan began signing with her 1-year-old son when he was about 6 months old.
“It’s really fun to be able to put that into a common song that he also really loves,” Chan said.
Attending the event allows her to discuss ASL with her daughter outside of school where she is learning signs, she said.
“I think it really helps their relationship too (as) siblings. They can understand each other a little better,” Chan added.
The events are a unique chance for everyone to be involved, Chauhan said.
“It can be very challenging for hearing people to get in the door with the Deaf community,” Chauhan said.
“(It’s) understandable too — that’s their community. It’s their language,” Chauhan added. “But Kei-Che really provides this amazing opportunity for not only ASL students, but parents that have hearing children.”
Third-time attendee, Samantha Licea went to the event with her 2-year-old daughter. Her child learned some signs at day care, but Licea hopes for her to continue on the path of learning.
Also with her daughter at the event, Wing Chen likes for her 4-year-old to have time socializing with different cultures.
The events are empowering on many different levels, Chauhan said.
In Chauhan’s experience as a mother, she couldn’t find any activities or events geared toward Black Deaf youth like her son.
Also, when her son was identified as being deaf, she heard comments that he would graduate high school with a third grade reading level.
Meanwhile, she’d always envisioned reading to her children nightly.
“It’s a time of bonding with your child that’s really important and it shows love and appreciation for books,” Chauhan explained.
She went on to attend a reading workshop for hearing parents hosted by Gallaudet University, a bilingual institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals as well as hearing students pursuing careers related to deaf and hard of hearing people.
On a personal note, her son became a book-lover.
At the end of “Sign Language: Stories and Songs”, attendees can take part in a bilingual craft activity. Randle also welcomes them to chat with her and ask questions about the Deaf community or ASL.
In celebration of Deaf Awareness Month, Randle was scheduled to present a book Sept. 27 about Deaf culture.
“Deaf Awareness Month allows us to spotlight Deaf success, books — any kind of representation related to empowering Deaf community,” Randle said.
However, the September session was canceled due to unforeseen circumstances and the next session will be held Oct. 25.
Everyone is welcome to attend, even if they aren’t part of the Deaf community, Lung said.
“The more the merrier, really, and it’s a benefit for everybody,” she added.
“Sign Language: Stories and Songs” is scheduled at the Civic Center Library Storytime Room through December. A one-month break in the series typically occurs during the summer. For more information, visit library.livermoreca.gov.
