Our First DVD in ASL

Well, we finally did it! We now have our first DVD printed and available for deaf children and their parents. If you read any of my hubs before, you know the struggles I have had as a hearing parent of a deaf child trying to learn sign language and trying to teach my children in their own language. (I am still taking classes in ASL to better communicate with my three deaf children). As a result, I wanted to provide something to help other parents struggling with the same thing. This DVD in ASL is only the beginning. We hope to have many more available in the future.

The first DVD is named after the little coloring book that goes with it. ( The DVD is free to parents of the deaf). The name is "The Sunday Coloring Book." The DVD was signed by my granddaughter, who is deaf. The DVD is all signed in American Sign Language, with pictures in color. We have added voice--for those hearing parents that are learning sign language.

Pointe Digital has donated all the filming of the DVDs and my company, Coloring Arts, has donated the pictures from the first coloring book. The only cost of the DVD to any parent or grandparent that has a deaf child or grandchild, is the cost of shipping--as we can't afford all the shipping( abt. $3.50 ), shipped first class anywhere in the continental USA.

Statistics that I've read, said that over 90% of the parents of deaf children are hearing. If that's true, there are a lot of parents struggling, as I was, in how best to teach their child. I learned the hard way, how important it was to teach my son sign language (the primary language of the deaf) first, and English as a second language. I realized, from raising three deaf children, the great difference this made in the type of education they received, and how important early language development was.

The myth that signing inhibits speech development, I believe, is truly only a myth. Signing first, gave my children knowledge--and more to talk about later. That is why I started this project--to help provide materials in sign language for parents like us.

SLCLC is the non-profit company that we have set up to continue with this project. All the ASL DVDs made by this company will be available for free for deaf children. Eight books are ready to go right now and one other DVD in ASL(all waiting for donations to begin printing). They will also be available for sale to the general public, but all proceeds will go to continue the production of these materials for deaf children and their parents. If any group wishes to help with the printing costs of the DVDs, we will give them credit on the back or each one. We are waiting for our 501(c)(3) status before taking any donations.