Imagine a day packed with excitement, where ASL comes alive through dynamic workshops and electrifying performances, each moment crackles with passion, inviting participants to dive into a world of vibrant communication and shared experiences. This was the case the moment you stepped into the Apollo Room at Wright State University on the 8th of November 2025. You could feel a buzz of hands flying in conversation in ASL, kids laughing, music pulsing through speakers while visitors exchange greetings. The Deaf Festival 2025 wasn’t just an event; it was a celebration bursting with color, motion, and community spirit.
On the corridors of the Apollo room, tables were lined up with bright displays of ASL-themed T-shirts, handmade jewelry, and cups decorated with signing hands. Vendors chatted with visitors using warm smiles and expressive signs, inviting everyone: Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and hearing to explore what they had in stock.
Across the room, the crowd gathered for the ASL 101 workshop, led by Deron Emmons and Arlon Nash. They brought humor and energy, showing how ASL works as a visual language and explaining differences between ASL and spoken English. Their stories had the audience laughing, learning, and singing along. Kids had their own world of excitement. A tall entertainer on stilts, who also happened to be an ASL interpreter, wove through the crowd, twisting balloon animals and posing for photos.
One of the liveliest parts of the day came from Magic Morgan and Liliana as they amazed the crowd with illusions that didn’t need spoken words to leave everyone grinning. Fairborn High School ASL students signed along to well-known songs, including “Poor Unfortunate Souls and DIVA,” transforming the stage into a visual performance full of emotion and rhythm.
Our own Deaf Ministry of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati was also represented. In fact, our own boot was a center of attraction with lots of free religious items like the Holy Rosaries, prayer pamphlets, Medals, and power point showcasing some of the photos taken during our past Deaf activities. A basket full of chocolates and candies attracted both kids, young and adults to our boot.
However, the festival wasn’t only about fun, it was about connection. Community groups like the Dayton Deaf Senior Citizens shared their upcoming events, inviting newcomers to join their gatherings. Interpreters chatted with students, and beginners practiced their signs with patience and laughter.
By the end of the afternoon, it was clear why the Deaf Festival had become such a beloved tradition at Wright State. It wasn’t just a place to learn about Deaf culture, it was a place to experience it, to join in it, and to feel the joy of a community celebrating together.
Fr. Charles Onumaegbu