What started as a long-held idea rooted in Deaf culture has grown into one of the University of Cincinnati Clermont's most meaningful community events.
The ASL Storytelling Performance drew 214 attendees to the college's Batavia, Ohio campus on Saturday, March 28, highlighting the event's continued growth since the first performance in 2018. The free event featured Deaf storytellers sharing personal narratives and cultural experiences through American Sign Language, followed by a social gathering that encouraged conversation and connection.
"The idea was in my mind for quite some time before it became a reality," said Kim Clifford, assistant professor of American Sign Language at UC Clermont. "In the Deaf community, storytelling has always been important. It creates a collectivist feeling of everyone being connected and informed."
Clifford created the event in response to the decline of traditional Deaf gathering spaces, such as Deaf schools and clubs, and to provide an in-person storytelling experience closer to Clermont County. Many Deaf-centered events take place closer to downtown Cincinnati, she said, creating barriers for families and individuals in outlying areas.
