Top Things to Do with Sign Language

1. Get a Job Using Sign Language

Get a career involving sign language. There are many options besides being a sign language interpreter. For example, if you have a psychology degree and learn sign language, you could become a psychotherapist for deaf and hard of hearing people. For those who are truly fluent in sign language, another option is to become a professional sign language teacher.

2. Communicate with Nonverbal People in Sign Language

Use it to communicate with people who can not talk. Not everyone who uses sign language is deaf. There are people who are unable to talk, sometimes because of a physical disability or a medical reason. The topic of nonverbal sign language users comes up on the About.com Deafness blog from time to time. Related blog post topics:

• Hearing But Need Sign Language? Sorry, You Can't Attend Deaf School
• What About Mute People?

3. Be Creative with Sign Language

You can use sign language creatively. For example, you can create art with sign language clip art, or bake cookies with an I Love You handshape. (You can buy ILU cookie cutters, etc. from vendors of deaf/hard of hearing products.) Sign language fonts can be downloaded and used to "write" on the computer.

4. Make Movies Using Sign Language

You can make a movie featuring people communicating in sign language. In fact, one of the fastest growing aspects of the deaf culture is deaf cinema. Deaf film companies are producing professional deaf movies with actors using sign language. Deaf film festivals that celebrate and showcase these films are being held across the country.

Related blog post:
An ASL Film Festival

6. Make Friends by Using Sign Language

Socialize by going to ASL dinners, deaf coffee meets, and other deaf social events. I go to signing suppers frequently and usually meet hearing people learning or practicing their sign language skills.

7. Play Sign Language Games

You can play games based on sign language. About.com Deafness forum members had many suggestions for games you can play to practice sign language skills.

8. Buy Sign Language Gifts

You can buy gifts and novelties that have sign language themes. Clothing, jewelry, stationery, collectibles, and toys are available that have a sign language theme.

9. Create ASL Poems

Tell or create poems using sign language. People who perform poetry using sign language are known as ASL poets.

10. Tell ABC Stories

Use the sign language alphabet to tell stories. These stories are known as ABC stories because every letter of the alphabet must be used in the story. Anyone can create an ABC story: When my child was in school, one assignment was to create an ABC story and perform it on video.