American Sign Language became a foreign language, when offered in schools, around the state Monday afternoon.

The new law may help more than just the hard of hearing.

Local sign language experts say there is a shortage of interpreters right now, and the need is growing by the day.

They say, if someone were to learn sign language, it could eventually lead to a job.

Charles Kiser, a sign language teacher at Blue Ridge Community College, says sign language is becoming popular with students he teaches.

However, until now, students have not been able to get any credit for American Sign Language courses they take.

Tara Handy Palmer, an interpreter at Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, says, with the passage of the new law, people who are fluent and can translate sign language now may have a leg up when it comes to job interviews.

“Being bilingual is very important. I can go almost anywhere within the U.S. and communicate with another deaf person,” explains Palmer. “This would be an incentive for people to become an interpreter, because there aren’t enough of them. The skills would be there, and the necessity could eventually be filled.”

See: WHSV