What are Home Signs?

Makenna Cook /

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

The History of the American School for the Deaf

Makenna Cook /

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

A Complete Guide to Deaf Schools in the United States

Makenna Cook /

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

Difference Between ASL, PSE, and SEE

Makenna Cook /

When you start learning American Sign Language (ASL), you might hear people talking about SEE or PSE too. What are those? Aren’t they the same thing as ASL? The answer is no. There are actually three different signing styles you may see in classrooms or in Deaf spaces: Signed Exact. . . + Read More

Deaf Culture’s Never Ending Goodbye

Amy Lazzaretti /

When you are chatting and are ready to leave, you make a simple gesture of saying goodbye. That lasts, what? 5 seconds? Even in a party, you still make a brief goodbye, perhaps lasting up to 10-15 seconds. However, in the Deaf world, the briefest good-bye may last 10-15 minutes.. . . + Read More