Video description:
​Paula (a female with long, light brown, straight hair, wears a long sleeve black shirt) stands in front of a light grey background and signs into the camera.  

Video transcript:
Hi.  I'm Paula Clark.  I'm from Seattle, Washington.  I work as an advocate at Abused Deaf Women's Advocacy Services (ADWAS).  Having DeafBlind family means that PTASL has always been part of my life.  I love the 3D visuo-spatial nature of ASL which offers dynamic lenses to view and express a multitude of perspectives. PTASL incorporates the element of touch providing a ground to capture even greater richness and depth and more nuanced perspectives.   I think PTASL is invaluable because through touch, access to communication, shared understanding, and connection is possible.  #WhyISignPTASL

(Video transcript and description also available for download as an accessible Word document)

#WhyISignPTASL ​

Video description:
Rebecca (a female with chin length dark wavy hair, wears glasses and a black v-neck blouse) sits in front of a dark grey background and signs into the camera.  

Video transcript:
Hello.  My name is Rebecca Cowan-Story.  I am from Atlanta, GA.  I am the state coordinator for DeafBlind services with Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation, often referred to as VR.  I use ProTactile American Sign Language because I want to honor the DeafBlind community, culture, and be able to fully communicate.  That's why I use PTASL.  #WhyISignPTASL

(Video transcript and description also available for download as an accessible Word document)

#WhyISignPTASL ​

Video description:
Jason (a male with short brown hair wears black sunglasses and a short sleeve blue polo shirt) sits in front of a dark grey background and signs into the camera.  

Video transcript:
​Hello.  I'm Jason Herbers.  I am DeafBlind.  I am from Cincinnati, Ohio.  I am a DeafBlind interpreter educator at the college level.  I use ProTactile American Sign Language, because before I lost my vision I used visual American Sign Language and loved the language, the expression of it, but once I lost my vision I switched to using PTASL and I felt connected to the world again.  Everything became clear.  I was able to connect with people and follow conversations, and I felt good about that.  #WhyISignPTASL

(Video transcript and description also available for download as an accessible Word document)

#WhyISignPTASL ​

Video description:
Jelica (a female with shoulder length curly brown hair wears black sunglasses and a long sleeve black jacket with a silver zipper) sits in front of a dark grey background and signs into the camera.  

Video transcript:
Hello!  My name is Jelica Nuccio.  I am from Seattle, Washington.  I am DeafBlind and proud to be!  Many people have asked why I love PTASL, I would like to tell you why.  I was born Deaf and used visual ASL, speechreading, and different forms of communication.  When I became DeafBlind it had a huge impact on my language.  Finding a communication mode that worked for me was difficult.  I could sign but I couldn't see the other person signing. I couldn't lipread any longer.  There were so many different types of communication modes that just weren't accessible.  I didn't have full access and I couldn't make my own decisions or be involved in communication.  I felt excluded.  Language is the key to inclusion.  We  developed a language called ProTactile American Sign Language (PTASL).  This language is based on touch.  For example, if I am talking to someone and they sign grandmother or grandfather, as their story speeds up, the articulation becomes less clear, and I might become lost and unable to track what they are saying.  I miss out on participation in this conversation.  I miss that shared connection that language often brings.  I might be able to pick up a word here or a concept there, but trying to piece together the whole story becomes difficult and I often feel like there is breakdown in communication.  

With PTASL, tactually, I have access to all the information at my fingertips.  This is equivalent to a hearing person having access to spoken language in English or French for example.  Or a Deaf person having access to visual American Sign Language and all of its grammatical markers, and feeling excited to be part of that conversation.  With PTASL, I have that same opportunity to be able to have access to be successful, to become more autonomous, and I can be more involved in a natural way.  People have become more accustomed to touch as a way of accessing communication similar to spoken or visual language. Each modality requires the brain to process a little bit differently, and PTASL has become a language.  #WhyISignPTASL
​
(Video transcript and description also available for download as an accessible Word document)

#WhyISignPTASL