1 00:00:01,065 --> 00:00:06,004 President Obama, I remember the night you became President. 2 00:00:06,004 --> 00:00:11,015 I was thrilled. Since you became President, I have watched 3 00:00:11,015 --> 00:00:16,009 your speeches, and notice you often talk about "Innovation." 4 00:00:16,009 --> 00:00:21,065 I agree, it's important. History has often revealed 5 00:00:21,065 --> 00:00:26,004 that innovation comes from those who experience 6 00:00:26,004 --> 00:00:31,015 the world differently. For example, Thomas Edison. 7 00:00:31,015 --> 00:00:36,015 Edison was a deaf man who recognized relationship between 8 00:00:36,015 --> 00:00:41,009 light and communication. He invented something that is 9 00:00:41,009 --> 00:00:46,065 in nearly every single home: lightbulbs. 10 00:00:46,065 --> 00:00:51,004 How fitting, that this is the symbol for ideas. 11 00:00:51,004 --> 00:00:56,015 Innovation happens when people have the ability 12 00:00:56,015 --> 00:01:01,009 to think, create, imagine, and when there is a 13 00:01:01,009 --> 00:01:06,000 means to express those ideas. 14 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:11,075 That ability is developed through language, and it is less 15 00:01:11,075 --> 00:01:15,005 important which language and more important that 16 00:01:15,005 --> 00:01:19,025 one can access information. Whether it is through speaking, 17 00:01:19,025 --> 00:01:24,000 signing, a variety of languages-- does not matter. 18 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,075 We've become so focused on teaching a specific way, in 19 00:01:29,075 --> 00:01:34,005 a specific language, that the learning space has become 20 00:01:34,005 --> 00:01:39,001 so restrictive as to marginalize many who are denied the 21 00:01:39,001 --> 00:01:44,085 opportunity to learn freely. And that is a crime. 22 00:01:44,085 --> 00:01:49,006 President Obama, I implore you to take the lead in 23 00:01:49,006 --> 00:01:53,035 creating space for American Sign Language in the classroom, 24 00:01:53,035 --> 99:59:59,999 in offices, even in the White House. Thank you.