Empowering Families Through ASL: Accessible Language at Home
An American Sign Language Class for Families of Deaf Children
Families, come learn ASL with us!
Hello! Our names are Dr. Razi Zarchy and Dr. Leah Geer. Razi is a faculty member at Sacramento State in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSAD), and Leah is the Program Director of the Early Intervention Studies graduate programs at Gallaudet University.
We’re looking for families of deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children to take an in-person, FREE beginner-level Learn ASL at Home class during the 2025-26 school year (Fall 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters).
Location: Maryjane Rees Speech and Language Clinic in Folsom Hall
(7667 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826) at Sacramento State.
Day/time: Fridays from 1:00-2:15pm.
Dates (all are tentative):
Fall 2025 orientation: August 29, 2025
Class sessions: September 5 - November 21, 2025
Spring 2026 orientation: January 30, 2026
Class sessions: February 6 - April 24, 2026
Note: This class will be taught in ASL and English with ASL-English interpreters.
Apply here!
Just click here and fill out our application to request a spot in the class by July 31, 2025: Family ASL Class Application Form
Important guidelines (please read carefully):
Members of the same family must apply separately because seating is limited, but are welcome to apply!
Completing this form does not guarantee enrollment. We have approximately 10 spots in this class. We will provide free childcare during class. Childcare will be provided by Deaf Studies undergraduate students who have undergone training in child development, safety, and lesson planning.
The final number of seats will be determined by the number of families requiring childcare and how many children they plan to bring to the class. If we have more interested families than we have seats, preference will be determined following these criteria:
Families who have not learned ASL before
Families who have children under 5 years of age
Families who experience financial barriers to taking ASL classes/accessing ASL materials
Important dates
Application forms are due by July 31, 2025. We will review each form and contact you (first by email and then by text) by August 7th, 2024, to let you know if you have a spot in the class. Watch your inbox around this time so you can respond quickly and snatch up your spot! We need confirmation that you want your spot in the class by August 14th, 2025. If we do not hear from you, we will have to offer your spot to someone else.
August 29th 1:00-2:15pm: Mandatory orientation where we will get to know each other and you’ll have the opportunity to let us know if you want to participate in the research component of this project.
September 5th 1:00-2:15pm: Class starts! It will run for 12 weeks (see dates above).
To be eligible for the class:
Must be a family member (including chosen family, close family friend, or neighbor) of a deaf or hard of hearing child
Must be available for in-person class participation (no virtual option will be available)
We recommend this class for family members of DHH children under 8 years old
Will everyone get into the class?
We want to give everyone a spot! However, if we have more participants than space, we'll have to prioritize families who have younger children and/or don’t have access to other means of learning ASL. The maximum number of families taking the class will depend on childcare needs. Because we will have 3-4 Deaf Studies students providing childcare, we will close class registration when the number and ages of children reach a reasonable capacity for our ability to take care of them safely and well.
This means that after you sign up, we’ll contact you to let you know if you have gotten into the class or not, based on the priority criteria above. If it doesn’t work out for you to take the class this time around, you’ll have an opportunity to express interest in future classes if we’re able to get funding to continue this project. We’ll also share other ASL-learning resources for you to explore in the meantime.
How do I reach you with any follow-up questions?
The best way to reach us is by email: razi.zarchy@csus.edu and leah.geer@gallaudet.edu. You can also text us at 916-245-0327, though this is best for time-sensitive questions.
Thank you for your interest in our family ASL class! We can’t wait to learn with you!
Leah and Razi
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When and where will the class take place?
Location: Maryjane Rees Speech and Language Clinic in Folsom Hall at Sacramento State:
7667 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826
Day/time: Fridays from 1:00 - 2:15 pm
Orientation: August 29
Class: September 5 - November 21, 2025
Participants are required to attend at least 10 out of the 12 class sessions.
What languages will be used for instruction? Will there be interpreters?
This class will be taught in ASL and English with ASL-English interpreters.
Will this be similar to other beginner-level ASL classes?
No, ASL at Home is a unique, routine-based curriculum that we specifically designed for families with young deaf and hard of hearing children. Instead of teaching the more typical content, such as how to introduce yourself and the ABCs, we teach the language you need to communicate with your child immediately. We will follow 12 themes in this class throughout the year. Here are the first 4:
Meal time
Bath time
Diaper changing and bathroom routines
Book sharing
Also, instead of teaching you long lists of vocabulary words, we will teach short lists of core words that you can use to create sentences immediately. In fact, we will have you signing full, functional sentences on the first day! (Don’t worry, we provide LOTS of support!) Before you know it, you’ll be coming up with your own sentences.
The structure of each chapter includes:
Language instruction (learning to sign and understand others’ signs)
Language enrichment techniques (specific actions you can take to apply your new skills and make it easier for your young child(ren) to pick up the ASL that you use with them)
Discussions on deaf community cultural wealth (discussions of your own network of support and lessons from deaf adults on how to navigate the world as a deaf person)
Will childcare be provided?
Yes! Deaf Studies students from Sacramento State will provide childcare in the room next door to our classroom. They will receive training in child development and safety (i.e., CPR) before the class begins. They are all hearing and know ASL and English. Some also know Spanish. We will have access to a supply room full of toys and games for them to use while you’re in class.
Who is this class for?
Our target audience is family members of deaf and hard of hearing children aged 8 and under. If your child is older than 8, you are still welcome to take the class and we will do our best to modify the classwork to apply to your language needs.
Do I have to enroll as a Sacramento State student to take this class?
Nope! You will just fill out our enrollment form (not yet available) for this specific FREE project. You will check in at the front desk of our speech and language clinic each week, accessing that space the same way that other clinic clients do. There is free parking for clinic clients at Folsom Hall. We will get you access to the free parking before the semester begins.
How will Sac State students be involved?
As mentioned above, undergraduate Deaf Studies students (who know ASL) will provide childcare next door to the adult class. Graduate-level speech-language pathology students in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSAD) will join the class every week to work on their own ASL skills. Then, every two weeks, they will take turns teaching you a language enrichment technique. They will also facilitate breakout groups for you to practice the techniques. All of the students will also meet with the instructors outside of the class to discuss their experiences.
Who are the instructors?
The instructors are Leah Geer and Razi Zarchy. Leah (she/her/hers) is a deaf Associate Professor with 12 years of experience teaching ASL. She is the Program Coordinator for ASL and Deaf Studies at Sacramento State. She has an MA and PhD in linguistics focusing on first and second language acquisition. She also has an MA in early intervention studies from Gallaudet University.
Razi (he/him/his) is a hearing, ASL-fluent speech-language pathologist with 12 years of experience serving mostly deaf and hard of hearing students. Razi has a clinical doctorate in speech-language pathology and is currently a lecturer at Sacramento State and a PhD candidate in Education & Leadership at Pacific University Oregon.
Can older children attend the class?
The class is designed for adults. However, if you have an older child who you believe is mature enough to attend the class with you, they may wish to stay for the language instruction, then go next door to the childcare area for more adult-centered discussions. In the past, we have had a mature 8-year-old successfully take the class when it was online. He was a big help to his parents and grandparents, who were also in the course.
What’s the research component of this project?
Drs. Geer and Zarchy are researching various aspects of raising deaf and hard of hearing children. Sac State students who have received training in confidentiality and research ethics may also help us with this component of the project. If you choose to participate in our research study (it’s completely optional! You can take the class without participating in our study), we’ll give you a survey at the beginning and end of the class on the following topics:
The resources and connections you have in your life
How you would describe your current ASL skills and your current confidence level in signing with the deaf or hard of hearing child(ren) in your life
Some of your feelings related to raising the deaf or hard of hearing child(ren) in your life
A bit more information about you and your child
The survey will also include a few open-ended questions at the end, plus an opportunity for you to opt into a follow-up interview if you choose. (Again, this is all optional!)