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Pennsylvania School for the Deaf Students Join LSA and The Philadelphia Union for a Special National Anthem Performance

For many fans, a day at a Philadelphia Union match is about goals, cheers, and unforgettable moments on the field. On October 17th, however, one of the night’s most meaningful moments happened before kickoff.

As part of Philadelphia Union Kids Day, Language Services Associates (LSA), the Philadelphia Union’s official interpretation and translation partner and the match’s title sponsor, invited students from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf to participate in a special National Anthem performance in American Sign Language at Subaru Park. The students performed alongside renowned American Sign Language interpreter and LSA American Sign Language Expert Victoria Rodriguez-Mitchell.

Group of diverse young people in blue shirts celebrate with arms raised on a soccer field, confetti in the air and stadium stands behind them.
Group of diverse people in blue shirts hug on a soccer field with a stadium crowd in the background, celebrating together.
Group of six kids in matching navy shirts standing on a stadium grass field with a large cheering crowd in the stands behind them, during a event.
Woman stands on a soccer field in a light jacket, gesturing toward the crowd with a large video board and stadium behind her.
Two women in navy shirts performing a choreographed dance on a grassy soccer field with a blurred stadium crowd in the background.
Smiling man in a Philadelphia Union jacket taking a selfie on a soccer field, holding a MLS Pro official match ball.
Smiling woman in a white jacket raises her arm on a soccer field as a banner is unfurled and a crowded stadium watches nearby.
Two men pose together on a soccer field for a photo, one in a black jacket and cap and the other in a white training jersey with number 23, giving a thumbs up as stadium seating blurred in the background.
Man on a soccer field in a black jacket and cap, smiling and waving at the crowd, with a soccer ball at his feet.
A man in a black Adidas jacket and cap walks on a soccer field toward a ball at his feet.

Celebrating Inclusion Through American Sign Language

The event celebrated inclusion, accessibility, and the power of language to connect communities. For the participating students, it was an opportunity to represent the Deaf community to thousands of fans and show that communication takes many forms.

While hearing fans may experience the anthem through music and lyrics, Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals often engage with it visually through the rich expression and movement of American Sign Language (ASL). The performance showcased ASL as more than just a language, but also as a meaningful expression of culture, identity, and community.

Why Representation Matters

Victoria Rodriguez-Mitchell, who has spent more than three decades advocating for Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities and serves as the Philadelphia Union’s ASL interpreter for the National Anthem, says the moment represents much more than a pregame tradition.

“When these students stepped onto the field, they were doing more than just signing the National Anthem. They were showing thousands of people that Deaf individuals belong in every space, every community, and deserve every opportunity. Visibility matters because it helps people see ability before limitation. I'm honored to share this moment with students from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf and celebrate the beauty of ASL together.”

Victoria Rodriguez-Mitchell, LSA ASL Expert

For the students, the experience provided a unique opportunity to share Deaf culture and American Sign Language with a stadium full of fans while reinforcing the importance of accessibility and inclusion.

LSA and the Philadelphia Union's Commitment to Accessibility

LSA and the Philadelphia Union share a commitment to making professional sports more accessible and inclusive. From ASL interpretation during the National Anthem to captioned content and community outreach efforts, the partnership helps ensure Deaf and Hard of Hearing fans can fully engage in the matchday experience.

A Day Focused on Kids, Community, and Inclusion

Before the game began, LSA CEO Scott Cooper stepped onto the field for the ceremonial first kick, helping launch a day dedicated to kids, community, and inclusion.

For Cooper, the moment is especially meaningful as LSA’s title sponsorship of Kids Day extends beyond branding. It reinforces the company’s mission to remove communication barriers and create opportunities for every individual to participate, connect, and belong.

Creating Opportunities for Deaf Students

For students from the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, the experience provided a unique opportunity to share American Sign Language and Deaf culture with a stadium full of fans. Their performance highlighted the importance of representation and demonstrated how accessible experiences can strengthen connections across communities.

As the players took the field, one message was already clear: when communication is accessible, more people can fully participate in the moments that bring communities together.

Language Access Creates Meaningful Connections

Philadelphia Union Kids Day, presented by LSA, was more than a soccer match. It showed how language access creates meaningful connections and empowers more fans to share in the experience.

About Language Services Associates

Language Services Associates (LSA) is a leading language services provider, delivering compliant interpretation, translation, and AI-powered language solutions in more than 300 languages.

Since 1991, LSA has partnered with organizations in healthcare, government, legal, education, contact center, finance, sports, and other sectors to deliver high-quality, compliant, and scalable language access services. Backed by a network of 7,000+ vetted linguists, LSA provides accuracy, cultural competence, and 24/7/365 availability with over 99.9% uptime reliability. LSA integrates with your existing technology stack to deliver fast, seamless access to professional language services within your workflow.

As one of the largest privately owned language service providers globally, LSA combines human expertise with secure, integrated technology to help organizations improve outcomes, meet compliance requirements, and build inclusive multilingual experiences.