Summer Symposium

ASL Weekend Immersion Track

ASL Immersion Track: Led by Deaf instructors, this three-day program is designed to educate ASL students at various levels in an ASL-only environment.

Dates: Friday, June 20th 2025 – Sunday, June 22nd

Where: Northeastern University, Boston Campus (in person event)*

Registration Cost: TBA (includes lunch on Friday and Saturday)

*Limited financial scholarships available*

Here a list of Hotels / Nearby Accommodation we recommend for those who wish to stay off campus.

*On Campus Housing details to be posted soon. Room location and more details will be provided 2 weeks ahead of the event.

Friday June 20th, 2025

Saturday June 21st, 2025

Sunday June 22nd, 2025

5:00pm – 9:00pm

9:30am – 4:30pm

9:30am – 12:00pm

Jennifer O’Brien

Jennifer O’Brien is a proud alumna of Gallaudet University and holds a master’s degree from Boston University. She is an experienced Deaf Education teacher with over 15 years of service supporting Deaf and hard-of-hearing children from infancy through age 22. She currently serves as the American Sign Language (ASL) Specialist at Horace Mann School for the Deaf in Boston.

In addition to her work in K–12 education, Jennifer has been an adjunct ASL instructor at Bristol Community College for the past seven years and has also taught at Tufts University. She has led numerous community-based ASL classes across the South Shore region of Massachusetts and has supported families of Deaf children through the Family Sign Language Program, a program based out of NECC and Gallaudet University. Jennifer has also been a returning instructor for Northeastern University’s ASL Immersion Weekend. 

Jotham Otterson has been an educator since 2008. Starting out in deaf education as paraprofessional for 3 years. From there, a chance ASL community class at Beverly School for the Deaf led Jotham down the path of American Sign Language Education. 

Currently the lead ASL teacher at Pinkerton Academy ASL program with about 430 ASL students. Currently teaching at Pinkerton Academy, UNH Manchester, Nashua Community College, Manchester, Community College, and NHTI.  

Taught community ASL class, K-12 for deaf studies at school for the deaf, taught at nursing home to staff, teaching at high school, community college and university. Jotham’s philosophy that ASL should be fun to learn, and engage students in activities to help retent vocabulary/language.

Britta Schwall as a proud third-generation Deaf individual, Britta Schwall is a passionate advocate for language access, working to end language deprivation and promote linguistic equity for all. As the Translation and Marketing Coordinator at the ASL Education Center, she is revolutionizing how American Sign Language (ASL) signers navigate, learn, and connect with the world through innovative approaches to education and technology.

Beyond her professional work, Britta is furthering her expertise through graduate studies in Language and Literacy Education at Boston University. An adventurer at heart, she finds inspiration in both creative expression and exploration, whether she’s crafting art, globe-trotting, or carving her path through the mountains, on foot or on a board.