Our Actions
As Sign By Side, we wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to our purpose and mission: to hear the unheard. Nowadays, deaf or hard-of-hearing people encounter challenges in communication, often experiencing barriers in expressing themselves and accessing information from the world around them. Consequently, they face marginalization within societies, encountering a lack of opportunities and social isolation.
However, we, as passionate, motivated, and united high schoolers, firmly believe that there is room for change, a window to help, and a door to equity.
Currently, Sign By Side has seized multiple opportunities to achieve our goals. Some of the actions we have taken so far include on-campus activities, awareness promotion, and educational workshops, among others.
Silence is Not Silent Channel
We notice that the "voices" and stories of the deaf or hard-of-hearing community are significantly exempt from the mainstream media.
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Therefore, we initiated this channel by interviewing people involved in the deaf community from all walks of life to share their stories.
Deaf stories in STEM
Sign Language Database
We noticed the significant language barriers between deaf and hearing worlds as well as the scarce resources online about sign languages. To address the language barrier caused by the existence of sign language dialects, we established a sign language database to provide information on these differences.
Visit Deaf Cafe
We frequently collaborated and interacted with local deaf or silent cafes, engaging in meaningful conversations to amplify their stories and experiences.
Diversability Week
"Diversability". It is a combination of the words Divers + ability. Diversity is not only about different cultures, countries, and races but also about the way we live and work with people with special needs. During the week, we organized Empathy workshops, invited autistic and disabled children to our campus and interact with community members, hosted Global Issue Forum, etc. to raise the awareness for the disabled groups.
American Sign Language Day
We host activities on campus during various sign language-related festivals to promote sign language and deaf culture. Our goal is to foster a sense of community and inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn about and connect with this vibrant culture.
Community Events
On campus, we initiated a wide range of activities aimed at raising awareness, advocating for inclusivity, providing valuable information, and bridging the gap between the hearing and deaf communities. Through these initiatives, our goal is to foster understanding and promote inclusiveness among all individuals.
Movie Night ‘CODA’ Apr. 17th 2022
We screened the film CODA to provide community members with a firsthand glimpse into the experience of living in a deaf family.
Zhixing Taster Workshop
We introduced the community members to the knowledge about deaf culture and the dialects of sign languages for the first time. I encouraged people to share their own experiences with encountering deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
Start of WeChat Official Account
Recognizing the power of social media, we initiated our WeChat Official Account to spread our influence online by sharing fun facts, knowledge, and awareness regarding sign languages and deaf culture.
Sign By Side x Atelier Posters
Collaborating with the art and design club, Atelier, we aim to spread awareness of sign language by designing teaching posters featuring frequently used facilities. These posters enable community members to learn sign language, thereby increasing accessibility.
Special Topics Day -sign language of love
We gathered community members together and learned expressions of love in sign language, emphasizing empathy and inclusivity.
Zhixing Fair
We set our stance to teaching sign languages and introduced and publicized our organization.
INCLUSION FOR A SHARED FUTURE - Gallery
A photo exhibition on disability inclusion through the eyes of children and youth.
Lip Dub x Sign Language
We participated in Lip Dub 2023 and incorporated sign language elements into the song "The Greatest Showman."
Weekly Sign Language Teaching Sessions
We hosted weekly sign language teaching sessions to learn standard Chinese Sign Language together.
One Day
We performed the song "ONE DAY" to the entire community, spreading the message of unity and hope.
Deaf simulation workshop
We discussed and planned our interactions involving physical theater and sports teaching for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This initiative aims to enhance their engagement and inclusivity, providing them with valuable skills and opportunities for physical activity.
Paint The Town Red Challenge
We combine sign language with dance to help people experience the joy of signing. This innovative approach not only makes learning sign language more enjoyable but also encourages spontaneous participation.
First Sign Language Workshop Apr. 19th 2022
During the lockdown period, we launched our first workshops with 30 participants to learn basic American and Chinese Sign Languages together.
Sign Language game session
We designed a sign language alphabet-name learning game to engage students from the entire campus and raise awareness about sign language.
Hi Sign By Side!
Official kick-off session after the first round recruitment.
Online session during COVID
During the COVID period, we organized Kahoot sessions to review the sign languages we had learned. Additionally, we collaborated and posted videos and articles to continue spreading our influence.
Interaction with local Special Education School
We investigated a local special school and visited teachers there to form bonds and collaborate, exchanging knowledge and experiences with each other.
Forums
We occasionally organized forums inviting all community members to discuss topics on ableism and how to be a good ally.
Christmas Sign!
During Christmas, we sang songs in sign language and performed at the school Christmas concert.
Empathy Simulation
We launched the Empathy Simulation Workshop, allowing people to experience various scenarios with the absence of different senses in order to empathize with what the disabled are experiencing.
Sign By Side 2023
We conducted our new recruitment drive this year, seeking talented individuals to join our team and contribute to our organization's mission and goals.
Prep for collaboration with special school
We discussed and planned our interactions involving physical theater and sports teaching for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This initiative aims to enhance their engagement and inclusivity, providing them with valuable skills and opportunities for physical activity.
Merch Design
We discussed and planned our interactions involving physical theater and sports teaching for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. This initiative aims to enhance their engagement and inclusivity, providing them with valuable skills and opportunities for physical activity.
Zhixing Taster 24-25
We organize "Zhixing Taster" to invite new community members to participate and learn more about our club. They can meet current members, and experience the joy of signing. Additionally, these events serve as a preparation for our recruitment for the upcoming year, helping us attract new members who are interested in sign language.
