Makenna Cook / February 22nd, 2024 
As I gazed out the airplane window across the beautiful Cascade Range mountains. I realized I’d never flown this far West. Going into the weekend I knew exactly what to expect, but at the same time I had no idea what to expect. As the plane landed and I walked. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / January 27th, 2026 Imagine growing up in a home where no one else uses sign language. You still need to communicate about food, feelings, school, and the world around you. So you start inventing your own signs. Over time, your family understands them. Your gestures become consistent. They become your language. This is. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / January 27th, 2026 
In the early 1800s, a young Deaf girl in Connecticut watched the world silently from her yard. Her name was Alice Cogswell. Her father noticed something remarkable: although Alice could not hear, she was eager to learn. She communicated through gestures, curiosity, and creativity, but there was no school in. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / December 23rd, 2025 
An ASL-learner–friendly overview of strong program options across the United States If you’re considering a future in American Sign Language, Deaf Studies, or Sign Language Interpreting, the number of programs out there can feel overwhelming. Instead of listing every single school, this guide highlights recommended programs in key categories —. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / December 23rd, 2025 
American Sign Language continues to grow in popularity on TikTok and other social platforms. Short-form content makes it easy for viewers to learn a sign, save it, and share it, but it has also created an ongoing conversation within the Deaf community about who is teaching ASL online and how. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / December 23rd, 2025 
What Is the NAD? The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) is the oldest civil rights organization in the United States dedicated to protecting the rights of Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. One of the many areas the NAD advocates for is accessible media, including captioning, sign language access,. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / November 25th, 2025 
It’s January 1st. You’ve written “exercise more” and “save money” on your list of resolutions… again. But what if this year’s goal connected you to thousands of new people and a vibrant culture? Learning American Sign Language (ASL) is more than picking up a new skill, it’s a doorway into. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / November 25th, 2025 
Picture this, you walk into a cozy café, the smell of espresso in the air. The barista greets you with a warm smile and a quick flick of their hands in ASL (American Sign Language): GOOD MORNING!. You’ve just walked into Mozzeria, one of the nation’s most well-known Deaf-owned restaurants.. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / November 25th, 2025 
Imagine stepping off a ship in 1816. The salty air of the Atlantic swirling around you, as a young American minister named Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet meets Laurent Clerc, a Deaf educator from France. Neither knows it yet, but their collaboration will spark the birth of American Sign Language (ASL), a. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / October 27th, 2025 
Imagine stepping into a bright art gallery. The walls are covered in vivid blues, glowing yellows, and deep purples. Each painting is alive. There are a pair of hands signing, a burst of color that seems to speak. You don’t need captions or sound. You feel the story. That is. . . + Read More
Makenna Cook / October 27th, 2025 
Finding the right Deaf school can look different depending on who you are. Parents may be searching for the best environment for their child’s education, educators might be looking for program details or resources to support their students, and ASL learners could be seeking local schools that host events, workshops,. . . + Read More
