Born in Baghdad, Iraq, Sally Alsigab and her family moved to Amman, Jordan when Sally was six years old. There, during the Iraq War, her father applied for asylum through the. After two years in Amman, the family was granted asylum and moved to Phoenix in 2008 when Sally was eight. "I went to public school with my brother, but there was no communication at all," Sally said. Sally and her father are Deaf. In Iraq, they learned Arabic Sign Language, which they still use at home. However, the move to America and attendance at American schools required them to learn not one, but two new languages–American Sign Language and ·¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²õ³ó–s¾±³¾³Ü±ô³Ù²¹²Ô±ð´Ç³Ü²õ±ô²â.&²Ô²ú²õ±è;&²Ô²ú²õ±è;
Sally's father appealed to the International Organization for Migration to help find Sally a school for the Deaf. While Sally attended Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, her father visited ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ's Disability Resources and Services (DRS) to explore his options. There, he worked with Sign Language Supervisor Julie Roles to learn American Sign Language and then English. Julie had to rely on gestures at first to find the similarities between Arabic Sign Language and American Sign Language, and explain the differences. Eventually, with a command of American Sign Language, Sally's father attended classes at ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ (¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ) with interpreter services, which paved the way for Sally's enrollment at ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ.
Sally describes her time at school in the hearing and Deaf worlds as "completely different. In my Deaf world, I can sit wherever I want and communicate easily with my Deaf teacher. In the hearing world, I sit in front of the classroom with an interpreter. I do my best to communicate with my professor. It's been a good challenge to have now rather than later." Jamie Niehuis, who has worked as an interpreter at ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ for over 20 years, explains that interpreters will sign wherever a student wants to sit in a classroom. However, the interpreter also needs to hear what's being said by the professor and any audio or video being projected, which usually happens in the front of the classroom.
A dental career was Sally’s first choice, having had braces when she was 10 years old, but after a semester in the Dental Program, she decided it wasn't the right fit. "I learned a lot," she said. "After that, I just let it flow for a while. I took Math 145, which showed me I want to be an accountant." The flexibility to explore interests and career pathways is a signature feature of ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ and has given Sally the room to find her way to accounting. Sally noted the DRS office has been the most significant benefit of attending ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ. "They always support what I need and provide full access to interpreter services."
While the pandemic and the move from in-person classes to online and video instruction posed challenges for many students, it was especially tough for Sally and other Deaf students. She took a short break, returned to in-person classes, and now takes advantage of online tutoring. Jamie also mentioned that the DRS office has a video relay service, an essential tool for communicating with students and family members, but advances in technology now make the service available on smartphones. Sally will graduate in May 2025 with an Associate's in Applied Science in Accounting and plans to transfer to Arizona State University for her Bachelor's degree.
DRS staff are vital for Deaf and hard-of-hearing community members and other students with disabilities. Julie Roles is responsible for coordinating all the interpreter services on campus and manages a caseload of about 20 - 25 students each year. Jamie Niehuis works more directly with the students. "When a new student shows up, I'll meet with them one-on-one," she said. "If they want to register for classes, I explain how to do that and then take them to the Hannelly Center and get them registered. I also interpret in the classroom setting, typically a couple of classes a week, and when a student needs to talk to the English Department Director or have a one-on-one meeting, I'll interpret for that too."
. ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ recognizes Sally Alsigab and other persons with disabilities in the US and globally. We also acknowledge the disability advocates who make accessibility and inclusion in education possible.
If you have a disability or know someone who does, ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ has the resources to support students in reaching their educational goals. Connect with ¶À¼Ò±¬ÁÏ’s Disability Resources and Services staff and start imagining where your education can take you.