Duo Take EPCC Sign Language to New Level
El Paso, Texas, May 2, 2025 – Jose Prieto and Raul Luna were born in Juarez, Mexico. Jose and Raul both were relocated to the United States by their families as young teens. Jose and Raul both attended and graduated from Austin High School’s Deaf Education Program in the mid to late 1970’s. Best of all, Jose and Raul both work together in the El Paso Community College (EPCC) Sign Language Department.
Raul Luna is profoundly Deaf, meaning he has no hearing ability in either ear. He utilizes American Sign Language (ASL) and knows Lengua de Senenas Mexicanas (LSM) as well. Raul was a community deaf interpreter for years and assisted interpreters with any deaf using gestures or home signs.
Now, Raul is the new coordinator of the EPCC ASL and Interpreter Preparation program at the Valle Verde campus, a significant milestone because he is the first profoundly Deaf person to take the position. “I am excited to be the coordinator and thankful for the support I receive from EPCC and the department,” Raul said.
A tenured faculty member who started as a lab assistant and has worked at EPCC for 26 years, Raul quickly became an instructor under the guidance of retired faculty member Mary Mooney.
Jose Prieto has been at EPCC for nearly 20 years. Jose is a EPCC Sign Language lab aid, serves as a tutor for the Sign Language Department at Valle Verde, is hard-of-hearing and switches between English and Spanish often while signing to students and his coworkers. Jose has worked for the United States Postal Service for over 45 years.
For the last 16 years, Jose has hosted the Deaf Picnic, an all-day event each spring at Memorial Park. The event allows students learning sign language at EPCC to interact with seasoned interpreters and Deaf Community members. “The annual picnic is a chance to unite students, Deaf, and interpreters,” Jose said. “It is also an event that allows families of students to actively see what is being learned and why it is important.”
Both Raul and Jose work together at EPCC and incorporate their long friendship antics into the daily work life. This teamwork shows students what Deaf culture norms. In 2010, the EPCC Tejano Tribune did an article on Deaf Awareness Week and featured both in the article, and they have also received EPCC employee semester awards.
Events:
EPCC Sign Language Club Deaf-Friendly Picnic, Saturday, May 3, 2025, 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Park, 1701 Copia Street, El Paso, TX 79930.
Tickets are $7, and include food, drinks, and chips. Tickets may be purchased at the Sign Language Lab at Valle Verde, Building B, Room 254, or on site the day of the event, and the lab asks that you bring your own chair and/or blanket. Information: Raul Luna rluna23@epcc.edu
Low Sensory Sundays at the El Paso Zoo, Sunday, May 4, 2025 (the first Sunday of every month) 8:00 a.m., 4001 E. Paisano Drive, El Paso, TX 79905. Must pay own ticket at the gate.
The sign language lab at EPCC has partnered with the El Paso Zoo to have animal exhibits interpreted. This Collaboration will help zoo advertise the designated Sunday activities to help bring awareness to sensory issues some individuals face daily. The noise is reduced during these monthly sessions and employees at the zoo have been trained in disability sensitivity to provide better experiences for those who attend.
For more information on the EPCC Sign Language Department, please visit: https://www.epcc.edu/Academics/SignLanguage
2024 EPCC Sign Language Club Deaf-Friendly Picnic
Participants at the 2024 EPCC Sign Language Club Deaf-Friendly Picnic
Jose Prieto and Raul Luna Signing
Jose Prieto receives a certificate of appreciation from the EPCC Sign Language Club
