1. American Sign Language (ASL)
Lesson 1
Caleb Wysocki

2. Guidelines for this class
I ask that you do not talk during this class. Doing this will make you have to communicate without using your voice (as many deaf people do), and it will consequently help you to learn ASL better!
Today will be a lot of text on the screen. I will be signing along each paragraph as well to help you get acclimated to seeing ASL.
If you have something you want to say, but do not know how to sign it, I ask that you try to gesture it or write it down.

3. Background My name is Caleb Wysocki.
I have been active in Trinity United Methodist Church for 21 years.
I attended the University of Pittsburgh and graduated in 2016 with a degree in Linguistics and a certificate in American Sign Language.
Right now, I work as a sign language interpreter and a habilitation aid for deaf adults with intellectual disabilities.
I have been signing for more than 5 years.

4. The Goals of this Course
To introduce deaf culture and the Deaf Community
To educate on how to appropriately communicate with deaf people
To teach some basic signs and phrases to use to communicate
To make people more comfortable around deaf people
To educate on where to get additional ASL lessons if desired

5. Video
Here is a short video of some famous Deaf people you may know!

6. Deaf Culture
How many of you have met or know a deaf or hard of hearing person?
How do you communicate with them?
How do they communicate with you?
If you don’t know any deaf people, imagine there were a deaf person here right now, how would you communicate with them?

7. Deaf Community
Members of this community are proud to be deaf and use this to strengthen their bond with other deaf people.
People within this community use sign language to communicate.
This is a very tight knit group of people where everyone is very close.
Not all deaf people are involved in the Deaf Community or Deaf Culture.

8. The Three “Types” of deaf people
Hard of hearing: Generally can hear some of spoken language. May wear hearing aids or nothing. Will most likely be able to speak, but could sign as well. May or may not be involved in the Deaf Community.
deaf: May or may not hear a very small amount of spoken language. May wear hearing aids or cochlear implants or nothing. Will most likely use sign as their main form of communication, but may be able to speak as well. May or may not be involved in the Deaf Community
Deaf: May or may not hear a very small amount of spoken language. May wear hearing aids, cochlear implants, or nothing. Will use sign language as their main form of communication, but may be able to speak as well. Deeply involved in the Deaf Community.

9. Hearing Impaired?
DO NOT USE THIS TERM TO DESCRIBE PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF!
This term is used by the medical community to describe someone with a hearing loss.
When people outside the medical community use it, this term is seen by the Deaf Community as an offensive term because it labels them as if there is something wrong with them.
Deaf people view themselves as different, NOT disabled.
Example: One person is a teacher, another is a nurse. One person uses spoken language to communicate, another uses sign language.

10. How to Communicate if you don’t know ASL
The majority of the communication that we do is non-verbal.
What are some ways that we communicate without speaking?
Could you use these ways when communicating with deaf people?
Group up and try to come up with as many ways (or even signs you know!) as possible!

11. DOs and DON’Ts
DO:
Maintain eye contact
Be patient. Communication is probably going to require more time than usual or repetition.
Your best to sign to the best of your ability if you can (any bit of effort helps!)
Include deaf people in your conversations
Be friendly
Have a paper and pencil to use if you cannot sign well
DON’T:
Try to speak slowly so they can understand you better
Pretend to understand if you don’t
Use the terms: hearing impaired, deaf and dumb, deaf-mute
Obscure the view of your face
Stare at people signing
Assume that deaf people are not smart

12. Sign Names Sign names are very important in the Deaf Community!
Sign names are given to people that are involved in the Deaf Community by Deaf people.
Sign Names are considered a gift given by Deaf people to non native members of the Deaf Community.
Sign names usually have the first letter of your name and do a movement that describes your personality or favorite hobby or how you look.
Sign names can change over time!

13. Resources to Use Outside of This Class
Lifeprint.com, Youtube – Bill Vicars
Amazing lessons for free and hundreds of free videos to help any beginner start learning!
Pghdeafclub.com
Pittsburgh has its very own Deaf Club where many deaf people and people who are interested or involved in the Deaf Community hang out on the weekends!
Deaf people
Many deaf people enjoy helping teach people how to communicate with them and teaching about their culture.
Me!
I also love teaching people sign language and about deaf culture and the Deaf Community informally. Feel free to contact me at or You may also come up to me after class to ask questions.

14. See you Next Time! The next class will be Sunday, August 13th at 2pm!
Thank you for coming!