Difficult

Bone

Sources: Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Bone in American Sign Language. Both hands in bent V handshape, palms facing signer, tap at the wrists. Hands and arms are bones with a black outline.

End ID]

I started learning sign language because of when I'm so overwhelmed I can't speak. It has brought me so much more joy than I expected being able to communicate non verbally. I will say, language is a social tool. It felt like I was building a bridge to nowhere before I found people to sign with.

All my life, people have asked me why I was so quiet, and assumed I was an extreme introvert even though I enjoy being around people; I just hated talking and being expected to speak.

Now I have classes that are ASL only and my teachers can't get me to shut up! (They're nice about it, clearly it's in a "let the other kids have a chance" kind of way) Whenever I'm speaking and I can't think of how to express myself in English, my hands will find the words first. And when I'm with someone who understands, it feels so freeing!

One more time I wanna emphasize: Sign Language will help you communicate, but only with people who know sign language. And when you find those people, it is so worth it!

This goes for selective mutism, semi-verbalism, any sort of condition where someone who is generally able to communicate verbally loses the ability to do so

Day 1 of @elliottnotyet's Marchirp

Chicken

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: Chicken in American Sign Language. Dominant hand in small O handshape starts pointing out in front of signer's mouth, then pecks base hand. End ID]

Why’d you decide to be an interpreter?

(Also, hai! I saw you followed me :D)

Hi👋

I love signing, but also, I have experience with disability from both sides (chronic pain and working in assisted living). To me, serving a community you identify with just hits different. I know many Deaf people don't identify as disabled and I've never really been deaf, but I think there are a lot of parallels between my experiences facing inaccessibility as well as the pride and assumptions that come with being trans and the experience of many Deaf people I've met.

I'm also immersed in the Deaf community. Like I said earlier, it's important to me to be a part of the community I serve, but that's not the reason I interact with the Deaf community. I genuinely prefer socializing in ASL. People used to think I was an introvert, but now I go to social events at least weekly and often multiple times a week because I go to every Deaf event open to hearing people. So really it's more because I'm a hearing person in the community that I want to be an interpreter than the other way around.

Star, Star, Star, Sock, Sock

[Image ID:

The sign for Star in American Sign Language repeated 5 times in a circle. Each sign resembles a point of a star.

Star: Both hands in 1 handshape with palms facing away from signer point up and rub sides of index fingers. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent blue, purple, and pink in different stages of the sign.

Background is white.

End ID]

it's a little early for this but could we get a happy Halloween if you haven't already?

Sure, it's close enough

Halloween

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Halloween in American Sign Language. Both hands in bent B handshape rotate to cover the eyes. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent purple and orange. Eyes and fangs are purple.

End ID]

Bisexual

Sources: Lifeprint, them

[Image ID:

The sign for Bisexual in American Sign Language. Blue B and pink I handshapes overlapping slightly with purple in the overlap. Background is white.

End ID]

It was in my inbox for a month. I think I've made them wait long enough

it's a little early for this but could we get a happy Halloween if you haven't already?

Sure, it's close enough

Halloween

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Halloween in American Sign Language. Both hands in bent B handshape rotate to cover the eyes. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent purple and orange. Eyes and fangs are purple.

End ID]

Book

Sources: SigningSavvy, Lifeprint, ASLDeafined

[Image ID: the sign for Book in ASL. Both hands in b handshape palms facing each other, touching along the pinky side then palms facing up. Action resembles opening a book. Means open book in ASL if signed once and book if signed 2-3 times. End ID]

Paralysis

Sources: SigningSavvy, ASLDeafined

[Image ID:

Paralysis in American Sign Language. Hands in 5 handshape palms down move back into clawed 5 handshape. Movement is illustrated by arms that are translucent green and blue in different stages of the sign.

End ID]