American Sign Language (ASL)
Last updated
American Sign Language is a complete visual language, with its own grammar and vocabulary, used by many Deaf people in the US and Canada.
Topic: Vision and hearing
In plain terms
ASL is not signed English or a set of gestures. It uses handshapes, movement, facial expression and space to express grammar. Many Deaf people, written with a capital D, see ASL as central to their culture and community. Early access to a full language, signed or spoken, is critical for language development.
How it shows up in an IEP
For a deaf or hard of hearing student, the team must consider language and communication needs, including opportunities to communicate directly in the student's language. That may mean ASL instruction, ASL-fluent staff, peers who sign or an interpreter.
Example
A first grader in a bilingual program learns to read English while ASL is the language of instruction, and has a goal to retell stories in ASL with key details.
The rule
Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.324(a)(2)(iv).
Related terms
- Educational interpreterAn educational interpreter translates between spoken English and a signed language or other communication mode for a deaf or hard of hearing student at school.
- Teacher of the deaf and hard of hearingA teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing is a certified specialist who teaches and supports students with hearing loss.
- Hearing impairmentUnder IDEA, hearing impairment is a permanent or fluctuating hearing loss, not severe enough to be deafness, that adversely affects educational performance.
- Special factorsSpecial factors are five issues the IEP team must consider for every student: behavior, English learning, braille, communication and assistive technology.
On IEP Atlas
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