Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 1 Fall 2011 | Page 9

WSD Celebrates International
Sign Language Day
Recognizing the value of preserving sign languages
around the world, the World Federation of the
Deaf established an International Sign Language
Day which WSD celebrated to culminate the Deaf
Awareness Week. WSD Deaf Studies classes provided
presentations revolving around this year’s theme of
Deaf business owners.
After a short bus ride, the students arrived at Bill’s
Lock and Key store near the University of Wisconsin.
Bill Scherer explained the nature of his business in
making duplicate keys, unlocking locked houses and
vehicles, and securing important items in safes. Bill
Scherer graduated from WSD in 1955. The students
listened as Bill describe how he dealt with hearing
customers. Bill has Deaf and hearing staff working
under him.

The 8th graders provided a presentation/skit
combination on Abraham (Abe) Barash’s shoe repair
business. Abe graduated from WSD in 1934 and
started a shoe repair shop in Madison. The students
explained about Abe’s experiences at WSD and in
Fond du Lac by providing a skit scene of Abe and
his wife, Hilda, discussing relocating the business
to Madison in order to reach a larger customer base.
Students demonstrated Abe’s methods in operating his
business which made him successful including how to
deal with hearing customers.
Brian Lievens, noticed his 8th graders developed a
fascination with Abe Barash after watching a film clip
provided by Darrell Roby, WSD alumnus 1989, on the
lives of Abe and Hilda Barash. They were proud that
a successful Deaf businessman graduated from WSD,
and overjoyed to find a picture of Abe as a president
of Madison Association of the Deaf at the MAD
clubhouse.

Lastly, the students went to Towne East Mall for
lunch. All the students returned to WSD with greater
knowledge on how to operate a business as a Deaf
person. The students were enriched to see that Deaf
people can establish and maintain a successful
business. Perhaps some of our WSD students will be
new business owners themselves!

Students in Becky Epple’s freshmen Deaf Studies/
ASL class decided to do something different this year.
Instead of skits, they chose to contact various Deaf
comedians who have a business in the world of Deaf
comedy. The goal was to use video footage from YouTube in addition to their own skits or narratives. Thus,
the creation of 4 commercials featuring a kaleidoscope
of Deaf comedians and funny situations such as:
Bicyclist Sues Pager, Deaf Hot-Rod Drivers in NYC,
SuperDeafy Super Hero, and Messy Snack Food!
The five students in Chris Woodfill’s senior Deaf
Studies class gave three minute presentations on
various Deaf business people. The spotlight was on
Trudy Suggs, Chua Tick, Magic Morgan, Chuck Baird
and Steve Ropp.
Fall 2011 - 9