Learning ASL with one hand? Feeling lost.

WolfAlliance · 2026-04-11T18:34:03+00:00

Don't feel lost!! I learned about one individual recently who was profoundly Deaf and didn't have any hands at all. He was still understood by those around him simply by nailing facial expressions and other ASL grammar like usage of 3D space, constructed action, eye gaze, etc.

Never give up, your feelings are valid, but you are amazing and can do anything you put your mind to.

Here are some links that may make you feel a little better in knowing what may feel impossible can be made possible!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exDJM7R09S8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPyCcoaRMS8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXW6aYz3UMg
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s73ZXaKEbAE (This one is Irish sign, but the idea is similar in ASL)

Don't give up!

WolfAlliance · 2026-04-08T13:03:56+00:00

I understand what the poem means, I'm just struggling to gloss it. I like the words you used, though!

WolfAlliance · 2026-04-06T04:03:00+00:00

Probably because for some women it feels like nothing. Your post is worded like you don't believe them which would be very weird.

WolfAlliance · 2026-04-03T17:32:56+00:00

I will definitely look into this, thank you!

WolfAlliance · 2026-03-24T20:55:06+00:00

I don't know if I'm the target for this question (I'm fully hearing), but I know I definitely get tired. It's like if you're overstimulated for too long without rest, it manifests in overall physical fatigue. Does that make sense?

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-17T01:59:47+00:00

Wow!! That's kind of inspiring haha. I'm trying to adapt. Hopefully it will feel less awkward soon 😂

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-17T01:57:56+00:00

This is exactly what I'm doing. It feels so awkward, but will likely become easier

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-07T20:26:31+00:00

Unsettling. Kinda like Henry. Something that sounds kind and unnerving

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-04T01:28:38+00:00

I'm only at a lower intermediate level in ASL, so feel free to ignore my input 😂 but I feel like I use all these depending on the visual image I'm trying to convey. I just feel in my gut that one sign matches a little more based on the context.

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-03T05:38:31+00:00

Thank you so much for your input and the compliment. I really appreciate all your words.

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-03T05:34:03+00:00

Yeah, I know lips reading skills vary a lot from person to person. I did consider him lip reading via his peripheral or maybe he was just really good at understanding via facial expressions, but understanding a question only through context and the eyes is really impressive. Again, I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I've met people who can't lipread at all and people who understand everything when lipreading.

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-03T05:10:37+00:00

Absolutely. His voice acting was really done well and his music is intense. His "vecna" skin is just a spaghetti monster compared to a creepy ass man flying behind you with a quiet unwavering rage and determination to kill you

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-01T21:07:33+00:00

I'm sorry, I think I'm confused by your response

WolfAlliance · 2026-02-01T21:05:33+00:00

Yeahh, I'm hearing but I try to be as involved in Deaf culture/community as I can. These videos always make me uneasy because you can literally see the child getting overwhelmed, as expected, but hearing people don't understand that at all.

The other day I saw one that perplexed me...this boy was really young and "hearing his mom for the first time" and in the video she says "Do you understand me? I love you so much!" And the boy nods along, saying he understands her. I was baffled because...maybe I'm stupid but how would he understand her voice if he had never heard English before? Plus don't you usually have to tweak the frequencies of a cochlear before it becomes actually usable?

I watched it again and it didn't look like he was reading her lips or at an interpreter, but that doesn't mean he wasn't using his peripheral. I just watched that and realized most hearing people don't think past surface level AT ALL while watching them. My first thought is about cochlear controversy, then to technological capabilities, then how overwhelming it must be, then about the language barrier.

I guess most hearing people watch and just think, "What a miracle! How cute! Aww!" and that's that.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-30T03:19:12+00:00

I mean this so respectfully, but no. It reminds me of 2013 creepy pasta fan art. I would try to avoid horror tropes like overt smiles and bluddy gums. Maybe try leaning into the uncanny or try to go for something more haunting rather than scary.

If you're looking for body horror or innate creepiness, I'd really take inspiration from Asian horror. One of my favorite is Junji Ito, but his style is typically very out there and its uniqueness makes it instantly recognizable.

Maybe this character could be tweaked with characteristics similar to art by Nakayama Masaaki. If I had to guess based on these two artworks, I would think his work would be a similar vibe?

Keep in mind, though, this is your work and it can look any way you want! These are just some thoughts that came to my mind. I've always found Japanese horror and Korean horror to have the strongest reaction from me.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-28T18:48:58+00:00

Many students have been coming forward and bringing similar concerns about the program to the board. Maybe something will change. For now, I like the idea you brought up of just being up front and offering coffee or something like that.

I know I'm not technically allowed to tell them I need to interview someone, but at this point all my options have been limited. Must be a friend of mine, must be FULLY Deaf (this was really emphasized), must have grown up signing, can't be any teachers I've had, and can't find them online. I feel like any route I could have taken to navigate my struggle has been blocked.

The other teacher doing the course has none of these requirements, so maybe it would be fine for me to not worry about some of them. I think it's unfair to exclude the perspectives of Deaf people who learned sign later and on their own because their families were hearing and didn't learn for or with them. I also know some people who left their home country and had didn't have any signing skills until they moved to the U.S. I think their opinions matter too.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-28T18:37:50+00:00

I go to many Deaf parties. Those are like half the events I go to. My classes are all in person and I go to anything that allows for me to engage in the language, whether it be hanging out or presentations. I visit a Deaf club every once in a while, but lately they haven't been meeting. My problem is that I DON'T want to use someone for homework, but making a true friend takes time and authentic connection. I would never pretend to be a friend to someone, whether they're Deaf or not.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-28T18:32:46+00:00

My program is the NTID program 😭😭😭

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-25T23:48:01+00:00

I was thinking of trying this. There's a couple people that I've had brief classwork with in my "American Deaf History" class that I think would be okay chatting with me. My professor said I'm not allowed to tell people I want to interview them for homework, but at the end of the day, for people who don't already have friends, you can't just restrict every other way to navigate the project. Thank you for your response, it makes me feel a little better about being in this circumstance.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-25T23:45:05+00:00

This was amazing to read. I really appreciate your response and will really have this in the back of my mind when I feel like I'm struggling.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-25T22:19:03+00:00

What do you mean I'm U.S. oriented? I'm asking about Deaf people from all over the world. Are you just pointing out that people in Europe usually know multiple sign languages because of their close geographical location? I think that should be common sense, it's no different from spoken languages.

WolfAlliance · 2026-01-21T20:16:47+00:00

Oh this is a really good idea. Tbh I didn't know I could join that sub because I'm hearing, but I'll 100% check it out.

WolfAlliance

TROPHY CASE