If there is one area of learning ASL that trips people up more than any other, it’s fingerspelling. Fingerspelling in ASL is the use of the manual alphabet to spell out words letter by letter. It’s used for proper names,…
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If you are an ASL student, you know that fingerspelling is one thing, but being able to understand someone else’s fingerspelling is quite another. Perhaps you’ve had this experience: A Deaf person fingerspells something and you catch the first letter…..
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If you’ve ever met someone who seems completely at home in both the Deaf and hearing worlds–signing in ASL with native-like fluency, then effortlessly switching to speaking and back–you may have met a CODA. And if you know someone with…
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You’ve probably seen it, or maybe even tried it yourself. Someone is talking in English while signing in ASL at the same time, thinking they’re making communication more accessible. It’s called Simultaneous Communication (SimCom). And while it might seem helpful…
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American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, complex visual language with its own unique grammar and syntax. It is primarily used within the U.S. Deaf community and in parts of Canada. Contrary to some media depictions, ASL is not “English…
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An ASL name sign is a customized, identifying ASL sign that is used to refer to a specific person. Given by Deaf people, name signs are a topic ASL students are particularly curious about. As they study and practice ASL,…
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Did you see the Deaf family on Shark Tank? Deaf pizza makers Melody and Russell Stein along with their hearing adult children stepped into the tank in the 17th season finale, hoping to score a deal that will help expand…
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If you’re learning American Sign Language (ASL) and exploring Deaf culture, Instagram is full of inspiring, educational, and engaging ASL creators. Bite-sized posts that can give you practice, inspiration, or even food for thought—all in ASL. It’s a perfect way…
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Cochlear implants are often presented as a straightforward solution to “hearing loss” by medical professionals. But it’s a harder conversation within the Deaf community. We initially thought they’d eradicate our culture and language. It was a hot-button issue. The Deaf…
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Deciding whether to get a cochlear implant is not a simple decision. It involves a lot of practical, medical, financial, communication, and lifestyle considerations that are not always fully discussed until later in the evaluation process. This article isn’t an…
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A cochlear implant is a medical device designed to provide a sense of sound to individuals with severe to profound deafness. Unlike hearing aids, which amplify sound, cochlear implants work by directly stimulating the auditory nerve. This allows sound signals…
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Dinner Table Syndrome names a common experience among Deaf and hard of hearing people. It occurs when Deaf people attend gatherings of hearing folks–historically around a dinner table, but it can be anywhere. All too often, the Deaf person’s communication…
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Jen Leora is a Deaf Mom, Wife, Writer. Paradoxically musical. Probably procrastinating right now. Read more…
