The Sign Wear Place was established to help bridge the common language barrier between people who use sign language and those who use spoken English. It was born of the idea that a little bit of information can go a long way to understanding other people.

Sign language became a vital part of our life after the birth of our son David, who is hard of hearing. Like most babies who are taught sign language, he was able to communicate in sign at an early age. David is enrolled in a Deaf and Hard of Hearing program at a school in Southern California and uses sign language to communicate and read. Out of a need to inform the people whom David knows and meets that David is able to communicate in Sign Language, David's older brother designed a T-Shirt. This T-Shirt reads "signs well with others" and has the corresponding signs for these words appropriately illustrated underneath.

David wears this T-Shirt 3-4 times a week. He especially makes sure to wear it when he has a doctor's appointment or will be at a gathering with people who need to be informed or reminded that David is able to communicate more effectively using signs. The reactions of people who read David's shirt exhibit respect and awe, particularly by those who cannot communicate in Sign Language themselves and are willing to learn a sign or two.

This T-Shirt has since grown in popularity with people of all ages with many requests for purchase. The graduate students at the SDSU (San Diego State University) Communicative Disorder Clinic, which David has attended, purchased these T-Shirt for their trip to Gallaudet University, which is a university for deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing students alike. The clinicians and supervisors of these graduate students purchased these T-Shirt for themselves and their children and relatives who are also deaf. They officially approved the saying "signs well with others" as acceptable and wonderful.

Students taking ASL classes at Grossmont College and SDSU are purchasing these T-Shirts to increase exposure to others who also know ASL so that these people realize that they can communicate with the students in sign. This offers the students greater opportunities to practice the language that they are learning. Additionally, we gave these T-Shirts to David's classmates in his DHH class who also use sign language to communicate. They wear their shirts proudly and regularly, jumping on the opportunity to sign the words on their shirt for all those who want to learn them. It has been a great way for them to "break the ice" and socialize with all children. Instead of pulling away from the kid who does not talk, children want to learn how to sign with David, now that they know there is a new way to communicate. Teachers, aides, and interpreters of David's school have since also purchased these shirts to wear while they work (and play!). Additionally, mothers of young babies are purchasing these shirts to proudly say that their babies are communicating already in sign language.

Now, we would like to make this T-Shirt, and others like it, available to everyone. We feel that many more people can benefit from wearing these shirts in the same way that David, his classmates, and all the others have. So, enjoy, and now that you've already listened to our story, please tell us any stories you might have about a family member, friend, or relative and their experiences with our shirts or otherwise. We would love to hear from you!

Signed,

The Sign Wear Place Team

*Sign Wear is in no way affiliated with SDSU, Grossmont College, or Gallaudet University, though we appreciate the support of their teachers, staff, and students!!!

NAD Website