Bride’s Brother-In-Law Melts Hearts By Learning ASL Before Officiating Wedding To Include Deaf Flower Girl

Jun 22, 2023 by apost team

For many years, people living with disabilities were often excluded from social and physical activities due to their impairments. Not only were they limited from partaking fully in the fun of social gatherings, but their limitations also expanded to poor employment opportunities, inaccessible buildings, and restricted educational opportunities. These barriers to social and economic inclusion ultimately led to poverty, illiteracy, and depression for these people.

However, with the advancement of technology, many of these barriers have been put in check. Buildings and vehicles are now designed to be accessible, healthcare has advanced to provide more solutions to ease their lives, and mobile devices have features that make it easy for people with disabilities to operate. Also, educational and learning facilities have been designed to include disabled people, thus bridging the learning gap for them. 

While technological advancement is doing the work to include disabled people in society fully, empathy from people remains a critical step in ensuring that they do not feel left out in social and economic interaction. Over the years, with more enlightenment, more people have learned to understand the shortcomings of people living with disabilities and have gone the extra mile to ensure that this group does not feel left out. 

Overall, empathic people make all the difference when it comes to including people living with disabilities. One such person went out of his way to ensure a deaf flower girl got the whole experience at her uncle’s wedding. Randy Latini officiated his sister-in-law’s wedding in August 2022 and learned American Sign Language for two months just so the groom’s niece and flower girl, Riley, who was born deaf, could partake fully in the wedding ceremony. Continue reading to get the details of this wholesome moment.

In August 2022, a wedding officiant, Randy Latini, also the bride’s brother-in-law, devoted his time to learning American Sign Language in preparation for his sister-in-law’s wedding. He spent weeks learning the language, and on that special day, he was skilled enough to incorporate sign language into the ceremony.

The reason for Latini’s effort was simple: he wanted to ensure that the groom’s sister’s child, Riley Pacala, was not excluded from the celebration. Riley, a two-year-old, was born deaf but was such a happy and endearing child. The toddler had gotten hearing aids and was learning American Sign Language to express herself better. Despite her hearing impairment, the toddler had a demeanor that could light up a room. So when it was time for her uncle, Brain Regan, to get married, Riley was the perfect option for the role of flower girl.

At first, the guests thought Latini was making hand movements. However, the groom’s sister, Christina Pacala, recognized when he signed ‘family.’ At that moment, she understood what was happening. 

“I was a bridesmaid, and I started sobbing so hard when I realized he wasn’t just moving his hands – he was signing the word’ family,’” she told Today.

What made it even more emotional was that Latini had secretly learned the language without disclosing his intentions to anyone. In an interview, Latini detailed the message in his actions.

“It has become a bigger message about the little things we can do in our everyday lives to make people feel welcome, and seen, and heard,” he told NBC News.

Latini’s wonderful gesture and the joy it brought to everyone involved shows how little actions can go a long way to change the world and make it a better place. 

apost.com

What do you think about the bride’s brother-in-law’s efforts to include Riley in the wedding? Do you think it will improve the family’s bond? Would you go out of your way to show empathy towards people living with disabilities? Let us know, and pass this on to your family members and friends!