- Who are we -
The Support ASL Project is sponsored by All About Deaf, A Deaf-owned and Deaf-run business that focuses on promoting the value of American Sign Language. Even with ASL's rapidly growing popularity, it continues to be neglected or unappreciated by many individuals. This website will be a one-stop center for people interested in the language, Deaf or hearing. In addition to information about ASL, information on teaching, using, and understanding the language will also be provided.
- Mission -
The SUPPORT ASL Project aspires to illustrate the importance of supporting ASL and to promote awareness about the language through using of SUPPORT ASL products.
- Frequently Asked Questions -
What is the main purpose of the SUPPORT ASL Project?
The Support ASL Project primarily focuses on providing information and resources about ASL, including teaching, using, and understanding the language. One such avenue is via the Support ASL website (www.supportasl.com), which aims to become a one-stop center for people interested in ASL. So that anyone can access to it from anywhere, anytime, across our country as well as in other countries.
Is the owner of this business hearing?
No, the owner is Deaf and fluent in ASL. Ron Fenicle comes from a Deaf family whom all attended the same Deaf school. and all of his siblings (including himself) and their spouses attended Gallaudet University. He and his siblings also attended Western Maryland College to study Deaf education.
Why is the wristbands’ color turquoise?
After doing some research on the history of ASL for a long period, Ron is led to believe that ASL was partly influenced by Indian Sign Language in the west. Even today, there continue to be some similarities between American and Indian Sign Languages. He decided to choose the color turquoise in honor of American Indians/Native Americans and their contributions to ASL. However, there is no official study proving this.
Why is “ASL” used on the products, instead of “American Sign Language”?
Although the acronym “ASL” is widely recognized within the Deaf community, many people still do not understand what “ASL” stands for, or think it is an acronym for something else. It is also Ron’s goal to see ASL become a household word, and one way to achieve this is to put it on the products.
Does the SUPPORT ASL Project receive any funds from other companies or individuals?
This project is self-funded, and is not sponsored by any particular company or corporation. It depends on net revenue from selling SUPPORT ASL products in order to maintain and update the website frequently after collecting and doing research on ASL resources.
What are the most significant goals of the SUPPORT ASL Project?
- To provide ASL resources and expand information about ASL and Deaf issues and provide more resources that focus on ASL only.
- To eliminate misconceptions about ASL and promote its use in true form.
- To provide various formats of information related to ASL and Deaf issues, so people can retrieve and print information from the website for educational and research purposes.
- To enlighten and empower Deaf people and other people about the use of ASL.
- To ensure that the majority of parents and other family members of Deaf children choose to use ASL for communicating with their children, and to ensure that educators of Deaf children will use ASL as their primary communication in schools.
- To develop its own online ASL dictionary.
- To see that many, many and many people use the SUPPORT ASL products in order to make other people notice how many people actually support ASL in our country as well as in other countries.
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