SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL) and ENGLISH COMMUNICATION CHART – SPECIFIC TO COVID 19 (DOWNLOAD FREE)

Hello all and I hope that this special blog finds you and yours healthy and safe. As you may know, I have worked more than 30 years within the Deaf / ASL community. I also have vast experience with training First Responders on how to engage and communicate with people who are Deaf or have unique challenges, such as Autism.

In order to assist our medical and EMS staff to communicate with people who use sign language or are non-verbal, I have created this downloadable communication chart. It is FREE and you may download and copy as you see fit. I only ask that you keep it free and do not duplicate for profit.

Special note! This chart is NOT to be used for a substitute for a qualified sign language interpreter. It is to be used in conjunction with or until an interpreter arrives.

Additionally, this chart is for basic communication and should be considered more as a “conversation starter”.

How to use this communication chart

The top part of the chart has words to determine if a person is HEARING or DEAF, and to answer simple questions with a YES/ NO/ MAYBE or a HELP response.

The photos on the charts are to get quick answers to the most basic of questions often asked in an emergency room or urgent care. The photos have words embedded to ease understanding and the exchange of information.

There is an alphabet and the numbers 0-9 included. This should ease communication for general information such as obtaining a persons name, their medications, allergies, address , names of people to contact, email and phone numbers. Simply tap the letters or numbers.

I also added some essential words to garner more information – such as if the person is a Spanish speaker, wears hearing aids or has a cochlear implant. And, I thought it was important to know if they were able to read lips.

Or course, there are some typed statements regarding COVID 19 specifically. They are on the second chart in bold.

There are several symbols. These are for phone, email, FaceTime, text, Facebook and What’s App.

Lastly, note that this chart was made in response to the COVID 19 pandemic. I hope that in the days and weeks to come we won’t be needing to have materials created for COVID 19 or any other pandemic. But, I am glad that I could do my little part to help.

Be well. Please share to those who you feel could use this information in the medical / EMS community (or even our very brave grocery store clerks and delivery providers!)

If you wish to learn more about my work with the EMS community please go here

TO DOWNLOAD: CLICK EACH IMAGE BELOW, SAVE, and PRINT or DOWNLOAD AS A PDF

PDF VERSION


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Learn Online with Cudoo

There are positives and negatives to every situation. Such is the case of being “stuck” in quarantine due to COVID-19. The negatives is the lack of being with loved ones, friends and in public places. The positive is discovering new ways to keep the mind active. CUDOO is a very big positive.

CUDOO is a user-friendly online learning system with a wide variety of course topics. From foreign languages, accounting, social media and even engineering – you can expand your knowledge base with very little financial cost outlay.

After communicating with the company, who asked me to “test drive” their product, I decided to take advantage of looking at their version of American Sign Language instruction. I opted for the BUNDLE and started my way through the various lessons.


First Impressions

The dashboard and menus are very easy to negotiate. I appreciated that there was considerable content, but not too wordy or boring, about the nuances of sign language. Terminology used was common and very basic – perfect for beginners.

Clear examples are offered with each vocabulary word – both as an illustration and as a video. And, there are quizzes at the end to help with comprehension. I purposefully missed a couple and was sent back to “relearn” before moving on or getting my certificate.

Let’s chat about the certificate! It is an excellent feature as having proof of completion of a course that allows a student to add to their resume, bring to a current employer as proof of skill development and initiative or just have bragging rights!


See for yourselves!

Sometimes photos and video is a much better “explainer” than words, especially when it comes to sign language. So, I created this video to help you see the program “in action”.


There are a few things that I would recommend for this online American Sign Language course. My top request would be for additional learning levels to address more advanced ASL concepts and vocabulary. Also, games would be a fun addition or suggestions for creating games for hands on learning!


START LEARNING WITH CUDOO! A Special product link has been set up for my readers: https://dealspotr.com/getcode/Y9ezz The Product Code: LOUISESATTLER

Cudoos is priced very reasonably for individuals and families. The ASL bundle that I reviewed has a price tag of $49. As a reviewer, my disclaimer is that I received a complimentary subscription. However the opinions expressed here are 100% of my own and without input from the company.

To learn more about CUDOO go here: Cudoo.com

5 Tips to Learning Sign Language – videos included

Sign language is popular!  Why? Because, this past year, Deaf actor, dancer and model – Nyle DiMarco not only took top honors as America’s Next Top Model, but also won with partner, Peta Murgatroyd, Dancing with the Stars  !   An amazing feat!

It was exciting to see how Nyle seamlessly weaved his world of ASL with dance.  Moreover, his enthusiasm for sign language has had a serious trickle down effect – as many hearing people now are motivated to learn this beautiful visual language.

Related: See the dances and scores from #DWTS here

If you are a person who would love to learn the basics of sign language, but don’t know where to start – let me help! I put together a series of videos now available on my YouTube channel and just added my 5 TIPS to LEARNING SIGN LANGUAGE (also posted below).

Shamelessly, I will add here that you will find resources, free videos and downloadable sign language images on my website – SIGNING FAMILIES.

Before I end this blog with the 5 Tips for Learning Sign Language videos,  I want to publicly thank Nyle for all he does to promote ASL in our communities and for advocating for Deaf children and bilingualism. BRAVO!

See an important video about Nyle’s Foundation

Get your fingers “warmed up”… here come my 5 tips for learning sign language!

TIP #1 :  Learn 5 NEW signs daily!

 

Tip #2 – PRACTICE! EVERY SINGLE DAY!

 

TIP #3 – Learn from native ASL users – Deaf signers!

 

TIP #4 – Sign what you see!

 

TIP #5 – We all make mistakes!

 

 

 

TEN SIGNS for NEW ASL LEARNERS (Free download)

Happy Holidays!

As a present from me to YOU please find in this blog a FREE download of my 10 FAVORITE SIGNS intended for beginner or  novice sign language learners.  The ASL photography are for sharing and printing.

**  FREE DOWNLOAD  – Click the link below **

SIGNING FAMILIES – 10 Favorite Signs

The same signs found in the downloadable document also are included in these open captioned sign language videos from my YouTube Channel (Please go check out my channel and many other sign language videos!).

 

Coming soon – ASL videos to learn signs for travel!

Travel Sign Language - coming soon

Each year Signing Families, the company I founded nearly a decade ago, adds new videos to our free online catalog available on YouTube.   This year we are creating more sign language videos dedicated to the topic of travel!  Learn signs for countries, ways to travel and more! 

This series of videos will be focused on helping novice and intermediate sign language learners acquire basic vocabulary. Also, intended for those in hospitality management who may wish to learn how to communicate with Deaf patrons.

In addition, we will add information about Deaf travel opportunities. (Did you know that there are specific tour companies dedicated to travel with Deaf clientele?)

If you have a Deaf owned travel company or any other suggestions about this series- please comment below!

Thanks!

~Louise

Learn the ASL Alphabet via Fun Word Search Puzzles!

Looking for a fun AND educational gift this holiday season?  Try this series of FINGER ALPHABET COOL KIDS WORD SEARCH PUZZLES.   I received a set to review this week and must admit they are indeed creative and enjoyable!  Note that the puzzle books are marked by levels and type of words- such as Verbs or Adjectives.  Great for beginning ASL classes.

To learn more I would recommend clicking to AMAZON where they are sold for around $8 per book.

First week of the ASL Challenge

Have you joined the SIGNING FAMILIES 31 DAYS ASL CHALLENGE on YouTube?!  Each day during the month of October 2014 –  I am uploading sign language videos for easy learning.

Here are this weeks signs and a video of #5 – FAMILY

 

In case you missed them here are the other signed videos from the first week of the ASL CHALLENGE!

MORE

WANT

FINISH

TO SIGN

EAT

DRINK

FAMILY

 

 

Will you accept the ASL CHALLENGE?

Starting tomorrow, October 1st,  I will be hosting a 31 days, 31 ASL CHALLENGE on  YouTube.     It is my goal to teach people FREE how to communicate using basic sign language.   The signs will be geared for daily living and school terminology with a sprinkle of signs in the event of a disaster or medical emergency.  Sign language has traditionally been considered only used within the Deaf community. However, more and more children and adults with Autism and Down Syndrome are now learning sign for communication, too!  So many reason to learn!

Where to start?

First, set aside up to five minutes a day to learn some basic sign language and practice! If you subscribe to my Youtube channel you will receive reminders every time a new video is uploaded.  Secondly, if you are so inclined, please share these one minute videos with others. And lastly,  enjoy the journey of learning this visual language.

Learn more on FACEBOOK, SIGNING FAMILIES and of course, on my TWITTER stream.

 

 

What are you doing October 16th at 10:16 a.m.?

dropcoverholdon_re On October 16th at 10:16 in the morning, I will be joining the  9.2 million Californians and 19 million worldwide (and counting) individuals who are planning on stopping EVERYTHING to participate in the SHAKE OUT earthquake and tsunami drill!

RegistrationShakeOut_Global_JoinUs_300x250  is EASY and the whole drill only takes a few minutes.

WOW – five minutes to practice how to be safe when a disaster strikes!

And, for you non-west coast folks – don’t think that earthquakes are just “our thing”.  If memory recalls correctly – one of the most recent earthquakes of a magnitude greater than 5.0 in the United States happened in Virginia!

Here is the PSA I made in sign language with open captions to help keep everyone safe, including those in our Deaf and HOH communities!

 

graphics from ShakeOut.org