Tuesday, Grand Island Public Schools released a statement saying that it has not changed the sign language name of any student, nor is it requiring any student to change how his or her name is signed.
This statement comes after reports that Grand Island Public Schools asked the parents of a deaf preschooler to change how their child signs their name, saying that the gesture violated the school weapons policy. The policy prohibits anything in school that resembles a weapon.
The child signs their name by crossing their forefinger and index finger and moving their hand up and down.
The school district teaches American Sign Language ("ASL") for students with hearing impairments.
Grand Island Public Schools says it is not requiring any current student with a hearing impairment to change his or her sign language name.
