What is American Sign Language?
American Sign Language (ASL) is a complete, complex language that uses signs made by moving the hands combined with facial expressions and postures of the body. ASL is the primary language of many North Americans who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.
The STMA ASL Club in action:
Why you should learn ASL?
A deaf-blind woman named Helen Keller once said, "blindness cuts us off from things, but deafness cuts us off from other people."
Deaf and hard-of-hearing people are cut off by so many people because of communication barriers. If you were in a situation where you wanted to partake in a conversation with a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, you would most likely struggle to convey your thoughts to them as well as understand what they are trying to convey to you. By not being able to communicate, you are cutting yourself off from a potentially enriching or beneficial interaction with someone who has a different life experience and/or perspective than you.
Plus learning ASL opens up many job opportunities and is FUN!
Deaf and hard-of-hearing people are cut off by so many people because of communication barriers. If you were in a situation where you wanted to partake in a conversation with a Deaf or hard-of-hearing person, you would most likely struggle to convey your thoughts to them as well as understand what they are trying to convey to you. By not being able to communicate, you are cutting yourself off from a potentially enriching or beneficial interaction with someone who has a different life experience and/or perspective than you.
Plus learning ASL opens up many job opportunities and is FUN!
A bit about me...
Me, circa fall 2015, when I started to talk to my mentors and friends about my idea to help others learn ASL.
|
My name is Kylie Stokes and I taught myself/am still learning sign language via many different online resources, however, while doing this I found it very difficult to find a single, easily accessible website to learn sign language from that was made to be easy to navigate in a more technologically advanced time. I took it upon myself to give others an easy way to learn sign language in the hopes that more people will take it upon themselves to learn if it's easier to find the necessary information to do so. This website is also used as a curriculum for an ASL club I started at my high school as well as a portion of my Girl Scout Gold Award.
|
A more recent photo of me, summer 2018.
|
A HUGE thank you!
Making this website would not have been possible with out the following people...
Ellie (Lesson 1)
Sydney (Lesson 2 & 6)
Alex (Lesson 3 & 14)
Katelyn (Lesson 4)
Lynsey (Lesson 5)
Alexa (Lesson 7)
Garrik (Lesson 8)
Jordan (Lesson 9)
Megan (Lesson 10)
Maddie (Lesson 11)
Bretton (Lesson 12)
Cameron (Lesson 13)
Joe (Lesson 15)
...Thank you for letting me blind you with camera flashes so that this website would have all of the amazing picture references!
Libbey (Videos)
Wesley (Videos)
Anissa (Videos)
...Thank you for letting me include your amazing videos on this website, it truly would not be the same without them!
Benton (Video of ASL Club in action)
Thank you for spending the time to put this together, I appreciate this so much!
Ellie (Lesson 1)
Sydney (Lesson 2 & 6)
Alex (Lesson 3 & 14)
Katelyn (Lesson 4)
Lynsey (Lesson 5)
Alexa (Lesson 7)
Garrik (Lesson 8)
Jordan (Lesson 9)
Megan (Lesson 10)
Maddie (Lesson 11)
Bretton (Lesson 12)
Cameron (Lesson 13)
Joe (Lesson 15)
...Thank you for letting me blind you with camera flashes so that this website would have all of the amazing picture references!
Libbey (Videos)
Wesley (Videos)
Anissa (Videos)
...Thank you for letting me include your amazing videos on this website, it truly would not be the same without them!
Benton (Video of ASL Club in action)
Thank you for spending the time to put this together, I appreciate this so much!
*DISCLAIMER: This website works on mobile devices but images may get jumbled around a bit so be cautious and read the descriptions*