ASL-for-All 5K (Walk, Run & Roll)

Join us for our FOURTH annual ASL for All 5K!

Help us celebrate and grow Olathe as a Shared Signing Community—a place where Deaf and non-Deaf people connect through sign language. Whether you sign or not, everyone is welcome! Our 4th annual ASL for ALL 5K fundraiser will take place at Kansas School for the Deaf (KSD) leading through Johnson County Square Park and back to KSD. Water and light refreshments will be provided to all registered participants.

After the 5K, join us for two exciting Fun Runs:
• Tots-Fun-Run: 50-yard dash for ages 6 and under
• Kids-Fun-Run: 100-yard dash for ages 7–10

Stay afterwards and enjoy our ASL Festival at the park, featuring community booths and live ASL activities following the conclusion of 5K race. It’s a celebration for all—runners, families, signers, and supporters alike!

Race Schedule: 

6:30 AM – Registration Opens
7:30 AM – 5K Race Begins
8:30 AM – Tots’ and Kids’ Fun Runs
8:45 AM – Live ASL Performance/ASL Activities

Registration Fees:

• $30 per person ($35 after Sept 11th) 
• $25 per person for families/ groups of 4 to 10 ($30 after Sept 11th)
• $10 per person Tots’ and Kids’ Fun Run ($15 after Sept 11th)
• 50% off discount for middle-school/ high-school/ college students (contact us for coupon code)

 

🎽 Packet Pick-Up:  Participant packets—including race bibs—will be available on Friday, September 25, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM at:
Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, 455 E. Park Street, Olathe, KS

👕 Late Registration Reminder: Participants who register after September 12 are not guaranteed a race t-shirt or their preferred size—register early to claim your shirt!

All proceeds from the ASL for ALL 5K will be shared between the Kansas School for the Deaf Endowment Association (KSDEA) and Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture (MDHAC). Together, we’re building a stronger future by fostering shared signing communities where Deaf and non-Deaf people thrive together.

For any questions, please e-mail: support@museumofdeaf.org

 

See below for information on American Sign Language, Shared Signing Communities and Signed Language Benefits

 

American Sign Language (ASL):

ASL is a natural language that serves as the most predominant sign language of Deaf communities in the United States of America and most of Anglophone Canada. ASL is NOT signing in or shorthand for English.  It is a complete and organized visual language that is expressed by employing both manual and non-manual features.  It is a natural language that has the same linguistic properties as spoken language, with its own grammar, syntax and vocabulary.  

ASL originated more than 200 years ago from the intermixing of local Native American sign language, French Sign Language, and Martha’s Vineyard Sign language (developed signs from a once-thriving shared signing community on the island of Martha’s Vineyard). While ASL is the most predominant, there is growing recognition of the use of Black American Sign Language, Plains Indian Sign Language, and Mexican Sign Language in the United States.  

Currently, other than English, ASL is the third-most taught language at high schools, colleges, and universities after Spanish and French. For more information about where you can take ASL classes, please check with your local high school, Johnson County Community College (JCCC), and the University of Kansas (KU)- Edwards Campus. 

Shared Signing Communities:

Imagine living in a place where everyone—Deaf and non-Deaf alike—uses sign language as a natural part of daily life. That’s what defines a shared signing community: a space where communication flows freely through sign language at home, in schools, at work, and during community gatherings. Deaf people are not on the margins—they’re central, included, and valued.

This is a powerful contrast to most mainstream environments, where Deaf individuals are often surrounded by non-signers. Shared signing communities have existed around the world for thousands of years, creating inclusive environments that celebrate language and connection. One of the most well-known examples in the United States is Martha’s Vineyard, where from the early 1700s through the 1950s, both Deaf and hearing residents commonly used sign language. It became known as a place where “everyone spoke sign.”

Today, Olathe is reawakening this tradition. With the presence of the Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture and the Kansas School for the Deaf, Olathe is growing into a vibrant shared signing community—one that embraces visual language, cultural exchange, and mutual respect. Through public events, education, and outreach, we’re helping foster a city where sign language is not just welcomed—it’s shared.

To explore the roots of shared signing communities, start by watching this brief film about  👉 Martha’s Vineyard and Sign Language  

How Signed Language Benefits Everyone:

Signed language is a powerful tool that opens up communication for all—without barriers, without frustration. Whether you're Deaf or hearing, signing makes conversations more fluid, expressive, and inclusive. You can dive deeper into what you really want to say—no need to leave anything out.

It’s also a brain booster! Signing sharpens memory, improves focus, enhances spatial awareness, and strengthens mental flexibility. It even helps you respond more quickly to visual cues, making you more tuned in to the world around you.

But perhaps the most beautiful benefit? Signing brings people closer. It deepens emotional connections and builds stronger bonds, helping you read and respond to others with empathy and clarity.

And it starts early—babies as young as six months, Deaf or not, can begin signing. This early exposure builds a solid foundation for language, learning, and connection that lasts a lifetime.