Karen 

Parent

The Signing Room is welcoming, well-organized, and such a valuable resource! It's a language class, a support group, and deaf community all together. Truly, thank you so much for seeing this glaring need for parents and filling this gap. We are so, so grateful :)

Krystal

DHH Teacher

Before I started the Signing Room I often would shy away from signing with other adults because I wasn’t confident in my skills. Now I feel that even if I don’t know a sign, I could at least explain myself better in order to be understood, by using classifiers, facial expressions, and finger spelling. Having Deaf language models was extremely valuable. 

Lyda 

Parent

The Signing Room is very helpful and welcoming. Stefanie is a great leader, always making sure everyone understood what is going on and caught up. The deaf models are very nice, always offering good advice on styles of communication. They would take the time to repeat, more than once, what they were signing to make sure I understood.

Sandy

Parent

I wasn’t sure what to expect and was hesitant on how the video chats would work, but the Signing Room has far exceeded my expectations. I get so much receptive and expressive practice every class with fellow parents and Deaf role models. I learn new vocabulary every single class and I get the opportunity to ask questions, clarify signs, and build relationships with my classmates and teachers. I took the plunge for the annual membership after my first class and have never looked back. 

Sara 

Parent

I was very happy with this innovative opportunity that focused on improving conversations in sign language that I could join from my own home. Stefanie Kessen is a skilled facilitator and creates 1:1, small group and large group educational experiences by video conference. She found a group of very positive Deaf adults from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, (from native ASL to PSE learned as an adult) who are willing to help parents gain conversational fluency to support their children of all ages. The assignments are novel and the resources shared are so helpful. I have taken a lot of classes by now, and this one fills a niche for us "beyond beginning parents!

Shirley

Teacher of the Deaf

As an experienced Itinerant teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, I'm ashamed to share that my sign skills are really just mediocre. Each summer I promise myself that this will be the year I take an ASL class,  meet deaf friends, and immerse myself in the culture so my sign skills will take off. But, in reality, it never happens. School starts and I find myself immersed in work,  just trying to keep up with all the demands. I also don't drive the hour away to take a sign class in the evening. Being exhausted, I go home! And that's what I love about "The Signing Room!" I can go home after work, take the ASL class, and meet deaf friends! Since starting the class, I have learned so much. I have a safe place to ask questions, people who don't judge my lack of skills, and I feel connected to this community. I love it!

Sam

Parent

The Signing Room is so helpful in helping me practice and acquire more ASL skills. I felt very supported throughout the class and everyone in the class shared a common goal for improving their signing no matter what level they were at. This type of opportunity is very helpful to those wanting to improve their signing but lack the ability to take classes or struggle with finding opportunities to work with other deaf people. Thank you so much for the Signing Room!

Elisa 

Parent

"The ability to come together and sign with each other has improved my receptive skills, and the story lines have added to my vocabulary and also new ways of signing a single word. I am so happy I had the chance to participate, and strengthen my skills for my Deaf daughter, as well as learning in order to communicate with the Deaf community where I live.

David

Parent

There's nothing like using a language you are trying to learn. Practice with other signers outside the classroom is the hardest thing to come by, and this format provides just enough structure to drive really focused practice. Bringing it into the home makes a huge difference  - deaf meetups in our area take place in the evening or on college campuses, but childcare and bedtimes can be a barrier!

Celesta

Parent

The Signing Room is a great way to to expand the sign language I already know into everyday conversations and life. I enjoyed chatting with the Deaf Language Models and others.