ASL Storytelling Performance draws strong crowd at UC Clermont
Event connects students with Deaf community
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.
Esperance Walkilongo shared her experience growing up in a hearing family and moving to the United States from the Democratic Republic of Congo during UC Clermont’s ASL Storytelling Performance March 28. Photo/Danny Kidd
“I’m a friend of the community, not an original member,” Clifford said. “I teach ASL, but it’s not my first language. It’s important to me that Deaf people tell their own stories from their own perspective.”
The event also supports UC Clermont’s growing ASL courses, in which 100 to 150 students enroll each semester. Courses fulfill foreign language requirements and are offered in person and online. Students can even earn a certificate in Deaf Studies through UC’s College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services and Information Technology — a beneficial addition to majors in education, social work and business, Clifford said. By connecting students with Deaf adults, the storytelling performance helps deepen language learning and cultural understanding beyond the classroom.
Clifford’s commitment to connection is shaped by her background as a sign language interpreter working with Deaf children in public schools, many of whom came from hearing families and had never met a Deaf adult. Those experiences, along with her years teaching ASL at UC Clermont — first as an adjunct beginning in 2000 and full time since 2012 — informed her goal of helping students and families envision what is possible through language and community.
This year’s storytellers ranged in age from early 20s to 70s and represented diverse backgrounds and experiences. The audience included UC students, students from other colleges, high school ASL students, Deaf community members and families, reflecting the event’s expanding reach and strong partnerships with local schools and universities.
“For me, helping people share their stories is a treasure,” Clifford said. “The things we learn from the presenters are incredibly valuable, and I’m proud to help facilitate that.”
For more information about ASL at UC Clermont, contact kimberly.clifford@uc.edu.
Top featured photo: Kimberly Clifford, assistance professor of American Sign Language, introduces guests during UC Clermont’s ASL Storytelling Performance March 28. Photo/Danny Kidd
About UC Clermont
UC Clermont College is in the center of Clermont County on 95 beautifully wooded acres in Batavia Township. The college is an accredited, open-access institution offering more than 60 programs and degrees. UC Clermont is part of the nationally recognized University of Cincinnati. For more information, call 513-556-5400 or visit www.ucclermont.edu.
Related Stories
UC surprises, celebrates newest Bearcats on Decision Day
January 28, 2025
On Decision Day, future Bearcats learn they’ve been admitted to the University of Cincinnati. UC continues its tradition of surprising some of those students in person.
UC surprises future Bearcats on Decision Day
January 24, 2022
Decision Day marks the moment when thousands of incoming Bearcats learn they’ve been accepted to the University of Cincinnati. University officials surprised four area high school seniors at their schools and homes, making them among the first to be accepted into UC in 2022.
Back to School 2025: UC’s sustained growth
August 25, 2025
The University of Cincinnati will continue to see growth in enrollment as classes begin Monday, Aug. 25, with a projected 54,000 students — a 1.4% increase over last year.