Why are you learning ASL?
Andrea DeTour
Member
What led you to start learning ASL? Do you have a friend or family member who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing you with the communicate with? Or have you just always been curious? Please comment your reason or story below!
When I was young, my family was close friends with a Deaf family. I had some experience in a Deaf household, however I didn't learn more than the alphabet as the two daughters were both hearing. Ever since, I have wanted to learn.
Now, in my mid-twenties, I started working in the school system. There is a little boy who is Deaf that I work with. His family does not sign, and he currently has no access to any language besides an AAC device that he doesn't understand or want. His family will not allow the school to send him to a specialized school for him to learn ASL. What little I have picked up from Deaf content creators and apps, I began trying to sign with him. Basics like socks and shoes, or time to go eat or go outside. He has responded well and everything is no longer a fight. He has also began communicating with me. Over the holiday break I have been trying to learn as much as I can to help him when we return.
I want to be clear. The state just started sending someone in once a month for an hour to try to teach him ASL, but she's missed more sessions so far than she's made. I have zero intentions of trying to teach him ASL as I am not qualified. I am only hoping to communicate with him in some way to help him until he finally is able to learn in the future.
I am looking forward to where 2026 takes me. I am looking into taking courses to become fluent. If anyone has any recommendations on that, I would love them. Please leave your story below, I'd love to read it.
