Deaf
Humanities in American Sign Language Courses
American Sign Language (ASL) Educators have a responsibility
to sustain and revitalize ASL by introducing discourse awareness in the
classroom. ASL Educators cannot separate Deaf Culture and Deaf Humanities.
Without humanity in the classroom, teachers instill an apathetic lack of
awareness among students. The mission of ASLTA is to perpetuate, preserve and
promote the language and culture in teaching. In the ASL classroom, these
negative beliefs about language and culture are defined as “deficit thinking” -
the spoken and unspoken assumptions about ASL and Deaf Culture. The purpose is
to honor aspects of Deaf culture which will help learners support the unique
identity and sense of self within the Deaf community. The focus of the strategy
is to support infusing authentic cultural content in the classroom. Weekly
topics and activities are shared with the learners. Using this sign language
teaching approach would foster humanity and cultural respect while bringing
attention to the language rights of the Deaf people.
"Deafinitely Politics"
This workshop in ASL introduces the basics of politics and
civic engagement. Participants will learn how the state government works, how
bills are written and passed, why political participation matters, and how the
Deaf community in NC can ensure its presence is represented through
political activism.
More
than Words: Mouth Morphemes, Interpreting, and the Voice of Today’s Deaf
Generations in School
ASL is a
rich, visual language that communicates meaning through more than just
hands—its full expression lives in the face, the body, and especially the
mouth. This workshop explores how mouth morphemes serve as essential linguistic
and emotional markers in ASL, carrying information about intensity, size,
manner, and even personality. As today’s Deaf youth continue to shape their own
linguistic identities, their use of mouth morphemes, facial grammar, and
stylistic variations reflect broader cultural shifts within the Deaf community.
Participants will examine how these evolving expressions reveal the “voice” of
today’s Deaf generations—one that blends ASL grammar with cultural trends,
social media influence, and regional diversity. The session invites educators
and interpreters to consider how to authentically represent and respect this
dynamic visual “voice” in classroom and interpreting settings. By recognizing
mouth morphemes not as “extra” features but as vital parts of meaning-making,
professionals can better support Deaf students’ communication, identity, and
self-expression.
Shaping AI
through a Deaf Lens: Tools, Risks, and Opportunities
Artificial
Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the way people access and interpret
information, communicate, and learn. However, most systems are designed without
Deaf people in mind. This workshop will explore how Deaf individuals and
professionals within the Deaf community can shape and utilize AI through a
culturally and linguistically appropriate lens. Participants will be guided
through various AI tools, examine potential and risks, and discuss strategies
for how AI might be integrated into Deaf spaces in order to promote access,
autonomy, and representation. Participants will accomplish this through
interactive activities, discussions, and demonstrations. These activities will
help participants identify practical ways to use AI for teaching, advocacy, and
everyday life, while also critically analyzing where bias and ethical
challenges emerge.
Head movements: Critical features in ASL
The workshop will discuss how head movements and their
vital grammatical and discourse function in American Sign Language. Head
movements are critical features in ASL and they need to be emphasized in the
classes. Head movements are alike using patterns of rhythms, stress, and
intonation in a language. They are analogous to the use of punctuation, such as
commas, semicolons, and spaces between sentences and paragraphs.
The Impact
of AI on Our Communication Needs: Are We Ready for the Future?
Artificial
Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming how we communicate, work, and access
information. Yet many Deaf individuals are uncertain about what AI really is and how it intersects with
interpreting, captioning, and ASL access. This interactive workshop explores AI
as a tool rather than a threat; examining
both its potential to empower Deaf people and the ethical challenges that come
with it. Drawing from Dr. Wright’s participation in the Safe AI symposium at
the 2025 National Consortium of Interpreters in Health Care Language Congress
and current research in Deaf education and interpreting, attendees will learn
how AI systems process language, where bias and accessibility issues arise, and
how Deaf communities can influence the design of inclusive AI.
Through visual
demonstrations and open dialogue, participants will leave with a grounded
understanding of AI’s real-world applications, from translation models to
accessibility interfaces, and strategies for engaging critically and safely
with these tools.
