2020 Gift Guide

Help someone you love learn ASL and show their ASL/Deaf pride!
This page contains suggested gifts -- for learning ASL online, for learning with books, and for enjoying some ASL-inspired crafts made by the Deaf community.

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Resources for learning

Give "American Sign Language Made Simple" !
** Click here for the GIFT order page **

• ​About the beginner course: ASLMeredith's Beginner Foundations Course is a self-paced online program to get students from zero to conversational in a matter of weeks.  No prerequisites!  The lessons contain video, text, exercises, and quizzes, all of which students can view and complete on their own schedule.   Contact me if you have any questions :) 
• Other course suggestions can be found over here.

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ASL-inspired clothes and crafts

• RoseBYANDER: Fine jewelry
• By Mara: Shirts, sweats, and accessories
• Language Priority: Shirts, sweats, mugs, and more
• ErryB: Bags, clothes, mugs, hats, even masks!
• DeafloveILY: stickers, shirts, and more​
• Love Letters By Emily: Prints and notecards
  
• Rings and Coffee: Jewelry, stickers
• Raine Collective: Jewelry, party decor, seasonal goods

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Books and DVDs

These are all items that I've personally used and recommend for teaching and learning.  My students have loved them!

(Note that the links below are Amazon affiliate links*, which doesn't change the Amazon experience for you but helps support this website and the resources I offer.)

Additional tip: DawnSignPress has their own Gift Guide to help you find their own books, games, and videos that are within your price range.

BOOKS

• Deaf Again by Mark Drolsbaugh: This memoir provides a first-hand account of Marks’ experience becoming Deaf and discovering what that means for him. This is required reading for all my ASL I students, because it really provides a comprehensive yet introductory look into the Deaf culture and experience.  Even better, they always love it! 
• For Hearing People Only  by Matthew S. Moore & Linda Levitan
• When the Mind Hears: A History of the Deaf By Harlan Lane: Interested in learning more about the origins of ASL in America? Love the folklore about Clerc and Gallaudet? Then this is for you.  It's dense but thorough -- you'll learn a ton in this extensive historical volume.
• The Hidden Treasure of Black ASL by Carolyn McCaskill, Ceil Lucas, Robert Bayley, and Joseph Hill: This book offers a sociohistorical and linguistic study of Black ASL, documenting the stories and language of the African American Deaf community.  This also includes links to online supplemental video content that includes interviews with Black ASL users.
• Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha’s Vineyard By Nora Ellen Groce: Groce traces the fascinating history of the use of sign language in the old Martha's Vineyard population, which had a remarkably high incidence of Deafness. 
• Deaf in America: Voices from a Culture by Carol A. Padden and Tom L. Humphries
• Signs and Voices: Deaf Culture, Identity, Language, and Arts, Edited by by Kristin A. Lindgren, Doreen DeLuca, Donna Jo Napoli: (Advanced and SO interesting)
• TRAIN GO SORRY: Inside a Deaf World by Leah Hager Cohen
• Inside Deaf Culture by Carol A. Padden 
• Deaf American Poetry: An Anthology edited by John Lee Clark

DICTIONARIES / GUIDES

• ​Learn American Sign Language: Everything You Need To Know To Start Signing (great for kids or adults) - This is a beginner's introductory guide to ASL vocabulary and Non-Manual Signals (facial expression), with brief introductions to sentence structure, as well. Learn 800+ signs from fantastic Deaf teachers I know, admire, and respect.
• American Sign Language Dictionary - Incredibly comprehensive dictionary! Often includes multiple variations of a sign if another version is common. Great illustrations. A solid resource to quickly search for a word.
• Religious Signing: A Comprehensive Guide for All Faiths - Useful dictionary for all religious and spiritual terminology. It's not specific to one religion; you'll find a wide variety of religious vocabulary for all faiths.
• The Joy of Signing - A perfect starter dictionary to establish a basic foundation of essential vocabulary.

TEXTBOOKS

• Master ASL: Level 1  -  This textbook / DVD set is well suited to grade-school and high school students, with excellent pictures and practice exercises. 
• Master ASL: Fingerspelling, Numbers, and Glossing - Fingerspelling and numbers are one of the biggest challenges for ASL learners. This workbook provides clear and useful instruction and practice exercises.
• Signing Naturally, Student Workbook - Units 1-6  -  My favorite beginner textbook / workbook combo for learning and practicing ASL with native signer demonstrations. Best used in conjunction with class practice and review. Comes with a DVD! 
• Signing Naturally, Student Workbook - Units 7-12 - Once you've completed Units 1-6, move onwards and upwards to Units 7-12! 
• Learning American Sign Language: Levels I and II - Less attractive in design/user-friendly than other textbooks, but the content is top-notch!! Well-explained information about signs, culture, and especially grammar.
• Linguistics of American Sign Language - This advanced linguistics textbook examines the complex but concrete structures that make up ASL.

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Happy Holidays!

Enjoy this ASL lesson for signs about WINTER and December holidays:

*We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.  As always, I only share books, DVDs, and other products that I have read, watched, used with students, and truly believe in!!  The price is the same on Amazon regardless of whether you click through the above or not :) It's a way you can help support this website and YouTube channel. Additionally, a portion of any proceeds will be donated to a different Deaf organization each year.