Exactly how do ASL videos in public libraries help deaf children and their parents?
A. ASL videos increase communication between parents and deaf children, promote literacy, and advance educational achievement. The large majority of parents of deaf children are hearing. Most of these parents know no sign language at the time their child is diagnosed, and experience great frustration in trying to establish or improve communication with their deaf children. Too often, parents who are not skilled signers feel out of touch with their deaf children, and unable to fully meet their needs. In such families, deaf children may feel communicatively isolated. These children may also lose out on the vast amount of learning normally available during the precious pre-school years, limiting later achievement. ASL video resources can make all the difference for these families. While sign language classes are valuable, much additional language practice becomes available by way of library ASL videos. Such videos allow Deaf adults and hearing parents to partner together in creating a ric
