(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Chicago’s deaf community is celebrating this weekend’s Oscar victories for the movie CODA, which could translate to more people learning sign language.
The buzz started after CODA co-star Troy Kotsur won for Best Supporting Actor, and it kept going when the movie won Best Picture on Sunday.
Chicago Hearing Society Vice President Karen Aguilar said the organization’s social media was lighting up.
“It was just thrilling to see, actually,” she said.
Interest in American Sign Language classes began growing after the society screened CODA in August.
“Since then, the request for sign language classes has definitely increased, which we’re thrilled to see,” Aguilar said.
About 500 babies are born deaf in Illinois each year, with the same number diagnosed shortly afterward, Aguilar said.
Ninety-five percent of the deaf children come from hearing parents.
CODA stands for Children of Deaf Adults. The movie depicts a young woman who is the only hearing member of a family who finds herself pulled between two worlds.
Also Sunday, CODA director Sian Heder won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Related
