English is an auditory language. ASL is a conceptual and visual language. It's not something that can be learned right away.

I learned mainly from deaf friends, then started going to any class I could find. I wanted to learn to communicate, not hurt.

As long as people are progressing, we'll take them wherever they want to go.

We have had as many as 97 and as few as 27. I'm always prepared with extra teachers because I never know.

People take the classes because of the deaf school and the deaf community, so they can communicate with friends and classmates. ... We've had everyone from nurses and other medical professionals to parents of deaf children. I've even had car salesmen.

Your language indicates──and limits──what you think.