How can family members learn American Sign Language?
The Learning Center has classes in ASL throughout the school year, as well as during the summer. They are free of charge to families of TLC students. There are also other locations in Massachusetts where one can enroll in ASL classes. The TLC office staff can answer your questions about classes and the available alternatives. Some parents and family members are concerned that their signing skills are “not good enough”, that they will never be able to “use real ASL”, or that their home environment (which includes non-signing hearing members) necessitates the use of Simultaneous Communication. While it is important for people to improve their ASL skills, the most important point to remember is that all family members need to feel included. No parent should feel that a communication method is “wrong” if it is providing quality interaction among family members.
