WHY ASL

ASL is the language of the deaf and hard of hearing community and is the third most spoken language in the US, fourth in North America. Though there are some regional differences, the language maintains its consistency throughout the nation. Therefore, whether you live in Seattle, Washington or Key West, Florida, with a few exceptions, the signs will always be the same. When you use "made up" signs or gestures, your child is limited to communicating only with those who know your signs. Furthermore, the use of some of these made up gestures have actually been known to be disrespectful and offensive to members of the deaf community.

Many high schools and Universities are now allowing ASL to be used to fulfill second language requirements. Exposing babies to ASL lays the foundation for bilingualism.

Learning ASL signs is easy. Many of the signs for words are iconic, meaning the action or gesture looks similar to the word it represents. As a standardized language, ASL signs are readily accessible and commonly known. When you want to learn a new word all you have to do is look it up in an ASL dictionary, which can easily be found on line or at your local library or bookstore. Alternatively, you can always ask someone who knows ASL as most are more than willing to share their knowledge of this beautiful language with others.

Photo courtesy of Sign2Me®