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AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE RESOURCES

Spoken across North Ameria, American Sign Language (ASL) is a beautiful and visual language that relies on facial expressions, body movement, and hand gestures to express thoughts and ideas.

Sign Language Hands Saying I Love You

A few notes about the resource library:
First, you can click on the different items to go to the independent sites (some links are affiliate links and will take you to Amazon.com, as I am an Amazon affiliate. I only recommend products this way that I have used myself and which I have found to be useful. Affiliated links are a fun way for you to support this library without any extra cost to you. (You can find my Disclosure Policy here.)

Second, I am always looking for new language resources, so if you have any suggestions, please send me an email!

Lastly, enjoy!

Online Resources

Books

Video Books

Lessons and Tutoring Options

Video Channels

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Online Resources

HandSpeak Dictionary

HandSpeak.com is a great online resource! It has an extensive dictionary that includes variants (regional or otherwise) for signs, as well as helpful tips and explanations! Youc an become a paying subscriber, but I find the free version is more than enough for my current needs.

Signing Savvy Dictionary

SigningSavvy.com also has an extensive dictionary that includes variants (regional or otherwise) for signs, as well as helpful tips and explanations. You can become a paying subscriber, but I find the free version is more than enough for my current needs. The only downside to the free version is the adds - they can be a bit annoying!

Sign ASL Dictionary

SignASL.org is another really good online dictionary. I prefer to access them via their iTunes app, so that I can quickly look up a word and its variants in the moment with my daughter.

Signing Time!

This is one of my favorite resources! They hav an online dictionary, as well as checklists to track what words you/your children know, suggested activities, printouts, etc! You can also subscribe to access videos for kids of different ages, as well as adults. Or you can opt to purchase the DVDs (we have a few, and they're pretty good!).

Online Resources

Books

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Signing Illustrated

By: Micky Flodin

If you'd like an ASL reference book, this is perfect! I use this book when I a) don't want to look at the computer screen anymore, and b) need help deciphering the visual movements I see on an online dictionary. The only downside to this book is that some of the signs are a little outdated. Other than that, I love using this reference!

Don't Just Sign... Communicate!: A Student's Guide to Mastering American Sign Language Grammar

By: Michelle Jay

ASL has its own unique and complex grammar, and this book is great for breaking it down! It's a good introduction for those wanting a deeper dive into ASL. It can be a little overwhelming, so take it a chapter at a time. Still, it's one of the best resources I've found for ASL grammar.

The Book of Name Signs: Naming in American Sign Language

By: Samuel J. Supalla

Name Signs are an important part of the Deaf community. This book lists out what Name Signs are, how they work, and why they are so important.

The Complete Guide to Baby Sign Language: 101 Tips and Tricks Every Parent Needs to Know

By: Tracey Porpora

I bought this book before I became pregnant, and it was so helpful in understanding the basics, as well as what the benefits are to teaching your baby ASL and a lovely outline/plan for doing so. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to - or is thinking about - teaching their newborn ASL!

Learn to Sign the Fun Way: Let Your Fingers Do the Talking with Games, Puzzles, and Activities in American Sign Language

By: Penny Warner

Are you planning on teaching your kids ASL, but don't know how to make it fun and interesting? This book is full of ideas and fun games to help you do just that!

The Baby Signing Book: Includes 450 ASL Signs for Babies and Toddlers

By: Sara Bingham

This is my new favorite book - we discovered it when I was pregnant with my second child! It's fantastic - it has an easy-to-understand introduction, lots of personal stories, places to record your child's progress, a dictionary with 450 signs, and tons of ideas and tips for making signing fun for you and your child!

Books

Video Books for Children

ASL Stories Directory

Created by the American Society for Deaf Children, this is a great video library for children's books in ASL!

Video Books

Lessons and Tutoring Options

InterSign University

Interested in taking a crash course in ASL? What about Indian or Korean Sign Language? InterSign University provides you courses in multiple sign languages, which I find pretty cool!

One caveat - my husband and I found we needed more context before diving into our course, so if you need to understand the mechanics of a language from the get-go, I would use this site at a later stage.

FREE Beginning Course and Videos

Gallaudet Univresity has a bunch of free videos, as well as an interactive course! It's worth checking out.

Take Lessons

This is where my husband and I found our awesome ASL tutor when we first started learning! He really helped us in understanding the basics.

Signing Time!

This is one of my favorite resources! They hav an online dictionary, as well as checklists to track what words you/your children know, suggested activities, printouts, etc! You can also subscribe to access videos for kids of different ages, as well as adults. Or you can opt to purchase the DVDs (we have a few, and they're pretty good!).

Video Channels

TakeLessons YouTube

TakeLessons has a playlist of different videos to help you in learning ASL. Check it out!

Learn How to Sign ASL

Another YouTube resource for ASL. I've only seen a few, but they seem pretty helpful.

ASL Meredith

The thing I like about these videos is that Meredith provides context for saying things a different way, as well as does voice overs so that you can focus on her ASL without worrying about trying to lip read.

Melissa Cayton

I found Melissa's YouTube channel while researching mouth morphemes (a crucial part of ASL grammar). Those videos were very informative!

Lessons and Tutoring Options

Video Channels

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