Signing Savvy for Libraries

Helen Keller was deaf-blind and famous from the age of 8 for overcoming great obstacles in order to learn to communicate. She became an author, lecturer, and entertainer so she would have a platform to share her life story and political views to advocate for others. She was renowned until her death in 1968 as an author and activist who fought for the rights of others. She has been said to be one of the 20th century's leading humanitarians and was named one of the most important people of the 20th century by Life magazine. Read more about her amazing life story.

Paul Hubbard was a Gallaudet football quarterback who is credited with inventing the football huddle.

At age 21, Marlee Matlin became the youngest woman to receive the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and her star-power has shone brightly ever since. Read the article to learn more about this talented and inspiring deaf woman.

Learn about Chuck Baird, the "Father" of the De'VIA art movement formed by Deaf artists, and experience his creative and meaningful artwork.

De'VIA is an art movement formed by Deaf artists to express their Deaf experience. Read the article to learn about De'VIA's formation, history, inspiration, subject matter, and much more.

Chuck Baird was an artist whose works captured the beauty and rich details of the world around him, as well as signifying the rich beauty of Deaf culture.

What is a name sign, how do you use it in conversation, and how are name signs given? Read the article to find the answers.

Closed captioning took well over 30 years to appear after the onset of television programming. With laws now in place to mandate closed captioning for all new video programming, Deaf and hard of hearing consumers may finally make the most of watching television. However, captions benefit more than just the deaf — second language viewers, elderly with hearing issues, children learning to read, and really anyone watching a movie or show with audio that may be unclear at times (like characters speaking quickly or excitedly or with an accent) or when watching in a loud environment.

Should a hearing person approach an unfamiliar deaf person in public and try signing? Read the article to learn about social cues and keeping common courtesies in mind.

Classifications are used to categorize deafness based on WHEN someone becomes deaf. Read the article to learn the terminology for these classifications.