Advancing early language acquisition for deaf children through quality educational programming in American Sign Language
In the News: Golfers in Collier County raise funds for ASL learning tools at charity event
Won’t You Sign with Us?
Join our efforts to make “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” accessible through American Sign Language! This valuable resource “Mister Rogers’ ASL Friends” has been proven to bring over 70 signs to families with deaf children through one, 30-minute episode!
Deaf children more than anything need access to language. American Sign Language provides 100% accessibility leading to command of a first language (L1). From here, the sky’s the limit! Fluency in a first language is the number one predictor of success in a second language (L2) or written English.
Let’s raise the 4th grade ceiling for literacy for deaf children in America by introducing them to the rich, timeless programming of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” Fred Rogers carefully crafted each program to the developmental needs of 3-5 year olds. By adding Deaf signers, “Mister Rogers ASL Friends” becomes an essential language model for young deaf children and their families.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to promote language acquisition for deaf children, while supporting family communication, through early educational programming in American Sign Language (ASL).
Background
October 3, 2005, ASL Readers, Inc. (currently ASL Friends, Inc.) incorporated with the intention of raising literacy levels for deaf high school graduates through early language intervention. On November 3, 2006, our organization received tax-exempt 501(c)3 status from the Internal Revenue Service for the purpose of adapting spoken and written English educational materials into ASL creating accessibility for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
Contact Us
| contact@aslfriends.org | |
| 928 Brodhead Road Suite 4 Moon Twp, PA 15108 |
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| 724.713.1402 |
Board of Directors
Kimberly Nussbaum
Founder, President & Treasurer
Susan Di Iorio Miller
Founding Board Member & Vice-President
Laura Clark
Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
Media & Awards
ASL Friends Seek to Make Marco ASL-Friendly
Coastal Breeze News
August, 2024
ASL Friends hosted its first annual golf outing, ASL Fore ALL, in early June at the Hammock Bay Golf and Country Club in south Naples, Florida. An early morning rainbow held back the rain as our community rallied together supporting deaf children and literacy.
ASL Friends, Inc receives 2017 Best of Pittsburgh Award
Pittsburgh Award Program
June, 2017
ASL Friends Inc has been selected for the 2017 Best of Pittsburgh Ward in the Community Organizations category by the Pittsburgh Award Program.
Each year, the Pittsburgh Award Program identifies companies…
Pilot Project Introduces Sign Language to Mister Rogers Neighborhood
Neighborhood News
April, 2009
Even though Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, like all PBS programming, offers closed captioning, most preschool children cannot yet read the captions that scroll across the bottom of the screen.
Nonprofit group welcoming deaf children into 'Mister Rogers' Neighborhood'
Kristi Locklin
Staff Writer
Pine Creek Journal, 2008
The Pine resident established ASL Readers Inc., a nonprofit group that is working to bring American Sign Language to “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Give to ASL Friends!
Any funds solicited for ASL Friends, Inc. are not being solicited by, or on behalf of, Fred Rogers Productions.