ASLdeafined Blog

Juneteenth and the Deaf Community: Honoring Freedom, Recognizing Voices

Juneteenth and the Deaf Community Honoring Freedom, Recognizing Voices Juneteenth—celebrated on June 19th—is a significant and powerful day in American history. It marks the moment in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. As the country continues to […]

Discrimination Doesn’t Always Shout: Facing the Silent Struggles of Deaf Employees

In today’s world, we often hear about diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Companies celebrate cultural awareness days, update policies, and talk about equal opportunity. But what happens when accessibility is overlooked, and inclusion is only surface deep? For many Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, workplace discrimination remains a very real and often invisible challenge. What Does Discrimination Look […]

“Dinner Table Syndrome”: What Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing People Face

Imagine sitting at a dinner table surrounded by laughter, stories, and conversation—only you’re not part of any of it. You can see lips moving, hear bits of laughter, and catch someone glancing your way—but you have no idea what’s going on. For many Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing (DDBHH) people, this isn’t a rare […]

Common Distractions When Signing with a Deaf Person

Looking away while signing Checking your phone or smartwatch Talking to someone else mid-conversation Chewing gum, eating, or drinking Poor lighting (making it hard to see facial expressions or signs) Wearing sunglasses indoors Blocking your hands (crossed arms, holding items) Standing too far away or behind the person Signing too quickly or too slowly Using […]

The Difference Between Deaf, deaf, and Hard of Hearing

If you’re new to learning about the Deaf community or American Sign Language (ASL), you may have come across different terms like Deaf, deaf, and Hard of Hearing. While they may seem similar at first glance, each term carries its own unique meaning and cultural significance. Let’s break it down: “Deaf” with a Capital D Deaf (capital “D”) refers […]

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Population in the United States (Expanded Overview)

1. Total Population with Hearing Loss However, this includes a wide range: 2. People Who Identify as Deaf or Seriously Hard of Hearing 3. Breakdown: Deaf vs. Hard of Hearing It’s important to distinguish: Group Estimate Notes Culturally Deaf (use ASL, strong Deaf identity) ~500,000 – 1,000,000 Use ASL as primary language Hard of Hearing (moderate-severe loss) ~10 million […]

Coming soon to a computer near you!

Already tired of election posts? We’re here for you! Like it or not, winter will be here before you know it, so consider keeping your brain active on those short days by learning a little ASL. ASLdeafined.com is offering the next set of live online Sign Language classes with our Deaf experts. See the flyer […]

DEAF PRESIDENT NOW (DPN)

You might hear a lot about the word REPRESENTATION these days and not be sure what is meant by it. If you search the word online, some key definitions that may pop up are “1. the action of speaking or acting on behalf of someone or the state of being so represented. 2. the depiction […]