ASL Basics
Learning American Sign Language (ASL) is exciting. It can also feel a little weird at first, because you’re learning with your eyes and your hands
June 12, 2026
Start ASL Articles
Author: Michelle Jay
Michelle Jay is the founder of StartASL.com. She earned a Bachelor‘s Degree in Deaf Studies, with an emphasis in teaching, from one of the nation’s premier programs at California State University, Northridge. Michelle is a published author and has contributed thought-provoking articles to academic publishers such as Greenhaven Press. Her unique articles have done much to support Deaf Culture, and have been printed in resource publications such as American Chronicle and Perspectives on Diseases & Disorders: Deafness & Hearing Impairments.
Deaf Culture
Get ready to explore a fantastic lineup of deaf movies that shine a spotlight on deaf characters, American Sign Language (ASL), and the vibrant Deaf
August 13, 2025
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by Abby Doss | 2 March 2021 Throughout the years, Gallaudet University has been known by many different names. Gallaudet is located in Northeast Washington,
September 15, 2021
by Lisa Baker (05/27/2020) Literature and the Arts is an incredibly important outlet within the deaf community. It is one of the four crucial values
February 15, 2021
About ASL
Before you learn how to sign different months of the year in American Sign Language (ASL), it’s important that you learn the American Sign Language
March 12, 2026
by Lisa Baker (03/11/2020) It is widely believed in the Deaf community that deaf children should have access to American Sign Language, Deaf role models,
February 15, 2021
by Anonymous | 03 June 2020 For many humans all over the world, our names are one of the first things we receive that differentiates us
February 15, 2021
About ASL
Social Media has been growing and changing in the last couple of years! It’s now a big part of many people’s lives. When having a
March 12, 2026
by Amanda Rolfe | January 13, 2020 American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters facilitate communication between people who are deaf or hard of hearing and people
February 15, 2021
About ASL
As a beginner who is learning American Sign Language (ASL), there are many basic ASL signs that you should know, such as the American Sign
March 12, 2026
by Olivia Honeycutt | 25 September 2019 The entire world is a built for Hearing people. Despite having no real connection to one another, no
February 15, 2021
by Anonymous As a doctor holding a Ph.D. in school psychology who has previously specialized in assessment of the intellectual and educational abilities of children,
February 15, 2021
by Caitlin Epstein (09/10/2020) In 2018, model, actor, and Deaf activist Nyle DiMarco answered the question “how do deaf people go to the movies?” DiMarco
February 15, 2021
by Teagan North (09/08/2020) Almost everyone is a consumer of health care services at some point in their lives. Doctor’s appointments and trips to the
February 15, 2021
About ASL
When learning American Sign Language (ASL), it is important to know the American Sign Language alphabet. You’ll come to learn that the handshapes of ASL
March 12, 2026
by Anonymous (09/04/2020) In the United States, as of 2006, about 1 in 20 people is considered deaf or hard of hearing (1), however its
February 15, 2021
by J. Conor Crockett | September 2, 2020 The Daily Bruin published a news article written by Noah Danesh on August 3, 2020 titled: “A
February 15, 2021
About ASL
Pets are more than just animals; they are our best friends and part of the family. In this video, you will learn some ASL signs for different pets that you need to know as a beginner.
March 12, 2026
by Nicole Colterman (08/27/2020) Martha’s Vineyard, home of astonishing landscapes, fishing towns, marvelous summer homes and one of the first known deaf communities in the
February 15, 2021
by Maddie Hammer (08/24/2020) Since its discovery in December, the widespread outbreak of SARS-CoV2 has infiltrated every aspect of our lives. The outbreak duration is
February 15, 2021
About ASL
Wh-Questions are questions that require more than yes or no answers. The wh-questions words are who, where, when, what, which, why, and how. When signing
March 12, 2026
by Rocio Caceres (7/23/2020) Sordo or The Silent War (English title) is a Spanish movie released in 2019 and directed by Alfonso Cortés-Cavanillas. Sordo’s genre falls between a few
February 15, 2021
About ASL
It is fall (autumn) season! Learn how to signs different words relating to the fall season! These are some of the essential terms (signs) that
March 12, 2026
About ASL
Are you wondering how to sign days of the week in ASL? Days of the week are some of the important signs that you should
March 12, 2026
One of the most beautiful aspects of Deaf Culture is the value Deaf people put on their own deafness (their hearing loss). This is known
February 15, 2021
American Sign Language is the most highly regarded asset of Deaf Culture. ASL is the natural language of the Deaf, so a strong goal of
February 15, 2021
The Deaf highly value the literature and art of their culture. Deaf Culture art and literature is how the Deaf share their values with future
June 4, 2025
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Begins at 6:00:00 a.m. Pacific Time (“PT”) on June
February 15, 2021
Start ASL is partnered with many schools that accept our ASL 1, 2, 3, and 4 course levels in order to award American Sign Language
March 30, 2026
by Michelle Waldo | August 28, 2018 When I was in college I spent a semester interning at Deaf & Hard of Hearing Services (D&HHS)
February 15, 2021
by Madeline Huwaldt | October 3, 2018 Gallaudet University was founded in 1864 and is located in Washington D.C and is a federally chartered private
February 15, 2021
American Sign Language
Have fun learning ASL with these sign language games! They are a unique way to supplement your ASL learning. Here are some of our favorites:
June 5, 2025
We all know Alexander Graham Bell (known as AGB in the Deaf community) as the inventor of the telephone. That makes him a good guy,
February 15, 2021
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July 2, 2025
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July 2, 2025
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July 2, 2025
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July 2, 2025
Children of a Lesser God is a 1986 film that, we believe, brought Deaf Culture and the values of deaf people into the public spotlight.
June 5, 2025
Deaf Culture
No Hearing People Here! Deaf people have been more in the spotlight than you may realize. There are so many famous deaf people and famous
June 5, 2025
Learning the nuances of Deaf Culture can be difficult for new American Sign Language students. Below you can find some tips and insights about interacting
July 7, 2021
Juliette Gordon Low was a deaf woman who was best known for being the founder of the Girl Scouts organization. Juliette Gordon Low Articles by
February 15, 2021
Baby Sign Language
12 Easy Steps for Communication with Your Baby Let me guess…your baby is crying uncontrollably and you want to know what he wants so your
June 5, 2025
Abbe de L’Epee, a French Catholic priest, founded the first social and religious association for deaf people around 1750. L’Epee’s full name was Abbe Charles
February 15, 2021
Laura Bridgman was the first deaf-blind person to learn language. When you think about the first deaf-blind child to be educated, you will most likely
February 15, 2021
Helen Keller is an internationally acclaimed author and lecturer. And that is so amazing because she was deaf and blind. When I was in elementary
June 5, 2025
A big event that occurred in Deaf history was the Deaf President Now (DPN) movement. DPN was a huge protest at Gallaudet University that started
June 5, 2025
Heather Whitestone McCallum is known as “Miss Deaf America” (even though Miss Deaf America is a different pageant). She was the first deaf woman to
June 5, 2025
ASL Dictionary
Learning American Sign Language phrases is one of the fastest ways to begin communicating in ASL. Instead of memorizing isolated vocabulary, phrases help you understand
May 12, 2026
In this free sign language unit sample of our ASL 1 course, you will be learning basic signs and see a conversation in action. Unit
June 5, 2025
Linda Bove was born on November 30, 1945 in Garfield, New Jersey to deaf parents. She majored in library science at Gallaudet University and received
February 15, 2021
Dummy Hoy made history as the first deaf major league baseball player. He’s also not famous just because he was deaf; he was also a
February 15, 2021
Sue Thomas was a deaf undercover specialist for the FBI. She was the inspiration for the TV series Sue Thomas: FBEye, an international speaker, author,
February 15, 2021
Truly Inspirational There have been several famous deaf actors in the media that have made significant contributions to the deaf community and hearing society. If
February 15, 2021
Deaf History
The history of American Sign Language is unique compared to the history of sign language in general. It didn’t truly begin until 1814 when deaf
June 5, 2025
Hearing loss is more like “Deafness Gain” to people who are part of Deaf Culture. The loss of hearing is actually a very small part
June 2, 2025
Becoming an American Sign Language interpreter is a very popular choice for many ASL students. People choose to become interpreters because they love American Sign
June 5, 2025
ASL Basics
We have compiled a great collection of videos showing the top 150 basic sign language words. These are the words that you should learn first.
March 12, 2026
Marlee Matlin was born in Morton Grove, Illinois on August 24th, 1965. After she came down with the German Measles at the age of eighteen
June 5, 2025
ASL Basics
Memorizing the American Sign Language alphabet (also known as the American Manual Alphabet or sign language letters) is the first step when learning American Sign
March 6, 2026
Are you learning American Sign Language on your own? Finding an ASL partner with whom to practice your signing skills is an integral part of
August 2, 2023
Deaf culture art is a cultural art that reaches both positive and negative ends of the spectrum unlike any other. You can learn so much
June 5, 2025
Through Deaf Eyes is the most informational movie about Deaf people. Most hearing people are completely clueless when it comes to Deaf people, the Deaf community,
June 5, 2025
The Deaf Olympics, known as the Deaflympics, are international athletic competitions for the deaf. The Deaflympics started in Paris in 1924 and have had three
February 15, 2021
There are so many wonderful sign language books for learning American Sign Language! Unfortunately, many of the newer books are internationally produced and wildly inaccurate.
June 5, 2025
Great Ideas for that Perfect Gift! There are so many great gifts available to give to a friend or relative who loves ASL! Check out
July 30, 2025
Switched at Birth is a television show featured on ABC Family that has truly brought American Sign Language and Deaf Culture into the living rooms
June 5, 2025
The question of who invented sign language has sparked much debate and has a vague answer. If you want to know who invented sign language, you
February 15, 2021
When you are 9 years old, you don’t think about making history. Alice Cogswell made history at the age of 9 by sparking the beginning
February 15, 2021
If you are interested in purchasing American Sign Language software, please keep in mind that desktop software tends to be outdated and takes the form
June 5, 2025
American Sign Language (ASL) is the natural language of around 500,000 deaf people in the US and Canada. A “natural” language is a language that
February 15, 2021
At Start ASL, you can teach your baby sign language in 12 easy steps. Baby Sign Language Books Another great way to learn is to
June 5, 2025
This article discusses a common Deaf cultural view of cochlear implants. Not everyone shares these views and this article is for educational purposes only. The
July 7, 2021
Many people wonder how deaf people are able to wake up if they can’t hear an alarm. However, with the advent of new technology for
June 5, 2025
When you are learning American Sign Language, it is important to get involved with the Deaf community. Many believe that learning ASL within the Deaf
February 15, 2021
Educating the deaf is a hot topic, and these books are indispensable! The education of the deaf has always been a hot topic in the
June 5, 2025
Deaf Culture
Here are some of the best deaf jokes we’ve heard over the years: The Motel A deaf couple check into a motel and go to
June 5, 2025
Shoshannah Stern is a well known deaf actress who is best known for her roles as Bonnie Richmond in Jericho, Holly Brodeen in Threat Matrix,
February 15, 2021
Great sign language products are hard to come by. There are tons of ASL books, software, and videos out there, but are they all really
July 24, 2025
Deaf Smith is famous for the important role he played in the Texas Revolution. Erastus “Deaf” Smith was born April 19, 1787 in Dutchess County,
June 5, 2025
Deanne Bray is a well known deaf actress who was probably the first deaf person Hollywood created an entire television show around. She is best
February 15, 2021
If you have ever wanted to read the true thoughts of a Deaf person who is a strong advocate for Deaf culture and is a
February 15, 2021
As you are learning sign language, you need to master the skill of American Sign Language fingerspelling (spelling out words by hand one letter at
June 5, 2025
Below is a printable free basic sign language chart image and PDF. Download Our Free Basic Sign Language Chart PDF Keep in mind that you
June 5, 2025
The Truth Behind the Sign I read something incredibly amusing today about the “I Love You” sign language sign. I read the “article” on a
February 15, 2021
An Interview with the Famous (Now Former) About.com Deafness Guide If you have ever researched deafness, deaf people, or sign language online, you have most
February 15, 2021
Using sign language flashcards is a great way to retain the ASL you’re learning when taking an ASL course. But you must be careful –
June 5, 2025
While a complete ASL course is the best way to learn ASL, here are the best sign language videos if you wish to use one
June 5, 2025
Signing songs for the deaf is a great way for students to learn a LOT of vocabulary and retain that vocabulary for a long time.
July 17, 2023
American Sign Language is a very expressive language. Songs in sign language are therefore equally expressive and many times are more expressive than their purely
June 5, 2025
Stockard Channing is a film, stage, and television actress who narrated the film Through Deaf Eyes. She is best known for her role as First
February 15, 2021
ASL Basics
Learning about Deaf Culture is perhaps the most important part of learning ASL. Deaf Culture was first truly recognized in 1965. The idea that Deaf
March 6, 2026
ASL Basics
The events that occurred in the history of sign language are actually pretty shocking. How deaf people experience life today is directly related to how
March 6, 2026
