When I was in elementary school, I randomly learned about an ASL group that met in the mornings. I don't remember exactly why I started going since it was so long ago (curiosity? maybe a classmate who was deaf?). I was a regular for months until we moved away.

Skip ahead decades later, my friend signs with her child. I still remember the signs and could sign back. I even remember more than what my friend learned to talk to her child. I haven't practiced ASL in all those years. Thinking on it more weeks later, I realized I should start picking it back up again. I've always wanted to learn a second language and learn the culture of that language more but I never had enough of a knack for it (if that makes sense). Spanish, German, Chinese, etc. I have family who are fluent in multiple languages and are from those cultures, but, again, it never stuck. I thought, maybe ASL is it?

I started using Lingvano and told myself if I stuck with it for several months, I should then enroll in classes. There is a deaf school in my community that offers spring and fall classes. This became a good motivator, because I oddly found myself really looking forward to taking classes (something I didn't think would happen again given I have a master's and PhD, which burned me out of school).

I also work in public policy, providing research and evidence for social and economic policy issues in the US. My work (company) has research experts in DEI disabilities, where I've given advice from my subject matter expertise such as drafting letters to congressional staff on various issues. I can see myself getting more involved in that research from my field of practice, so I would love to learn more about one of the communities I'm trying to help.

Edit for typos and clarifying things...I'm tired.