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DES MOINES, Iowa — The Blank Park Zoo celebrated American Sign Language by bringing together kids to learn about ASL and meet zoologist Nancy Barker.

Around 170 children who are deaf or hard of hearing came for the special event. They learned about American Sign Language (ASL) and how it can be used in school, at home, and throughout your community.

The event hosted special guest Nancy Barker Ph.D., the first deaf person in the world to receive a doctoral degree in zoology. Barker is profoundly deaf and grew up in a deaf home, giving her access to sign language from the very beginning. Her family laid the foundation for a love of nature and appreciation for living things.

During the event, Barker gave a keynote presentation where she recounted her adventures and her journey as a deaf woman following her dreams to work with animals and experience Africa.

“I remember growing up, we watched the Lion King. I knew it would be a rich experience to go to Africa, but I was young. I was just 21 or 22 at the time, and when I got there, I was very excited, I wanted to see so much,” said Barker.

One of the jobs that Barker got to do while in Africa was field work discovering fish. She would dive all day till late at night documenting the fish and experiencing other sea creatures like turtles.

“I mean swimming every day that was a nice life, right. I didn’t have to spend my time all day in the office. I did this every day for weeks, and I think I became more confident, I knew that I could trust myself to go out and do this type of field work.”

After her speech Barker led the group on a tour of the zoo where she shared her insider knowledge of some of the animals. She also helped instruct the kids in some additional sign language.

The event is hosted and made possible through the Iowa Department of Education and Iowa School for the Deaf Outreach. The Iowa School for the Deaf offer’s day and boarding school for children, providing specialized instruction while still prioritizing activities and sports, helping kids develop confidence and social skills.