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[Scott Davert]

Hello, Heather.
I understand some of the frustration you are having. I have gone
through a lot of similar issues when it comes to deaf-blind meetings
or social gatherings. As a hard of hearing person, you kind of don't
fit in anywhere.
Not to be discouraging, but I was unable to follow an ASL class when I
tried to take one while completing my master's degree a few years ago.
I had a one on one interpreter, but it wasn't quite enough. The only
way I have started to pick up on the art of signing is through 1 on 1
classes. Which, for a deaf-blind person, can be hard to come by. While
I know many people who have experienced similar difficulties with such
classes, I have an acquaintance who is blind and hearing who picked up
on it all very quickly. She has my envy.
If you want hard copy braille stuff, you are essentially out of luck,
but you can certainly load the below info on to your notetaker or
whatever braille device you're using and see how it works out. Feel
free to reply with any questions, on or off list.

73 from New York,
Scott

 A= Make a fist as if knocking on someone’s door. You’ll notice all
 your fingers are closed and your thumb is across on the outside of
 your fingers. Move your thumb to the side of your index finger and
 point your hand up. You have just formed an “a”.

B= Hold your hand up, palm facing out away from you. Close your 4
 fingers together (this is called a “closed 5” handshape). Now move
 your thumb so it rests in your palm (this is called a “closed 4”
handshape).

 C= Start with a closed 5 handshape (remember we just mentioned that in
 the description of B). Now, slightly bend all of your fingers and your
 thumb. It should feel as if you are about to grasp a glass or bottle.
 Be sure to keep your palm facing out away from you.

 D= Make a fist like you did at the start of making an “a”, keeping
 your thumb across the outside of your fingers. Now simply lift your
 pointer finger straight up.

 E= Start with making a “b” handshape. Now bend your fingers so the
 tips of your fingers rest on the side of your thumb.

 F= Hold your hand up and spread your fingers apart; this is called an
“open 5 hand”. Now touch the tip of your index finger to the tip of
 your thumb. Keep the other fingers spread out.

 G= Make a fist. Move your thumb and index finger slightly apart as if
 holding a small object between your thumb and index fingers. Keep the
 other fingers in a fist.

 H= This is one of the few handshapes where the palm will not face out
 away from you. Turn the palm in facing your chest and sideways as if
 covering your heart for the Pledge of Allegiance except don’t touch
 your body. Make a “closed 5” handshape. Now make a fist with all of
 your fingers except your index and middle fingers. Make sure your
 index and middle fingers are touching each other.

 I= Make a fist. Now only lift your pinkie all other fingers should
 remain in the fist.

 J= Make an “I”. Keeping the “I” handshape twist your wrist to the left
 so the tip of your pinkie is pointing to the left. The print letter
“j” looks like the shape of a fish hook and that’s the shape you are
 drawing in the air.
 K= Make a fist. Lift up your index and middle fingers. Slightly move
 the middle finger straight but away from you while keeping your index
 finger straight up. Now touch the tip of your thumb to the knuckle of
 the middle finger, nearest your palm.

 L= Make a fist. Lift your index and thumb. Your index finger should
 point straight up and your thumb should point to your left. Remember
 if you are learning to fingerspell with your left hand, this is one
 handshape that differs from a right handed person. Index finger still
 points up but your thumb will be pointing to the right. The rest of
 your fingers remain bent in the fist handshape.

 M= Make a fist. Move your index, middle and ring fingers so they rest
 over your thumb instead of under it.

 N= Make a fist. Move your index and middle fingers so they rest over
 your thumb instead of under it.
 O= Make a “closed 5” handshape. Bend all your fingers so the tips of
 your fingers touch the tip of your thumb. Try to keep the “o” round.
 You should be able to fit a small ball into the palm of your hand.

 P= Make a “k”. Bend your wrist downwards so your middle finger is
 pointing down and your index finger is pointing away from you. Make
 sure to keep your thumb on the middle fingers knuckle.

 Q= Make a “g”. Bend your wrist downwards so the tips of the thumb and
 index fingers are pointing down towards the floor.

 R= Move your middle finger and put it over your pointer finger (cross
 your fingers) so they are twisted.

 S= Make a fist and make sure your thumb is across your other fingers.

 T= Make a fist. Place your thumb between your index and middle fingers
 so it's sticking out between them.

 U= make a fist and stick only your index and middle fingers up. Keep
 them close together. This is also called a "closed 2" handshape.

 V= make a fist and stick only your index and middle fingers up,
 separating them. This is also called an "open 2" handshape.

 W= make an "open 5" handshape. Touch thumb to tip of pinkie finger.
 This is also the number 6 in ASL.

 X= make a "d" then bend the tip of your index finger. It looks like a "hook".

 Y= make a fist, then extend your thumb and pinkie out.

 Z= make a "d" then draw a zig zag in the air by moving your hand from
 left to right, then down the the left and back to the right.




On 9/4/13, heather albright <kd5cbl at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello, I am taking my first ASL class at the community college!  I am taking
>
> this course because I want to communicate with my deaf-blind friends and I
> myself have hearing difficulties!  I wanted to know if there is a brailled
> manual for the letters!  I received several audio books and one braille book
>
> however, they don't describe how to make the signs!  I thought they would
> after all the materials are from a blindness organization!  I tried to
> e-mail the Helen Keller foundation and never received a response!  I have
> tactile interpreters for in class!  However,  I don't have anyone who can
> work with me outside of class!  I have only been to the deaf-blind chat here
>
> in Austin once!  It was not a pretty nice experience!  The sighted deaf were
>
> talking amongst themselves and the so called interpreters for the deaf-blind
>
> were talking to themselves ignoring the people they were supposed to help!
> So my friends and I have not been back!  We communicate with our braille
> displays on the note-takers for now!  But I think there might be a better
> way!  I also work with refugees who are deaf and found that Iwas the only
> one who wanted to take ASL so I could at least communicate with the deaf
> refugees!  I already work with blind refugees, as a volunteer.  Thank you,
> Heather Albright
> Heather Albright
> "When we do the best that we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in
> our life, or in the life of another." Helen Keller
> contact: voice and text:
> 512-680-3985
> skype: cynterline
> e-mail:
> heather.albright at g.austincc.edu
>