LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The City of Lake Charles and the Calcasieu Parish School Board are teaming up to offer free American Sign Language classes this fall.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and other communication disorders, about two to three out of every 1,000 children in the U.S. are born with a detectable level of hearing loss, and more than 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents.

“We try to make sure that our deaf students have people in the community who can communicate with them,” Christa Foolkes of CPSB said.

The City of Lake Charles and CPSB are currently offering free training this fall every Tuesday for beginners and advanced.

Based on a Louisiana Commission for the Deaf case study, there are only 72 certified interpreters across the state to ser

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