American Sign Language (ASL) is a distinct language from English with its own vocabulary and grammar.
November 05, 2025
high
descriptive
Linguistic fact relevant to communication and accessibility for deaf communities.
Captions alone may not provide full and equivalent access to information for people who use American Sign Language as their primary language; both ASL interpretation and accurate captioning are important to ensure full access.
November 05, 2025
high
accessibility
Principle about effective communication methods for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals.
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) states that hundreds of thousands of people in the United States communicate mainly in American Sign Language and that many deaf and hard of hearing people do not know English.
November 05, 2025
medium
statistical
Advocacy organization estimate about language use within the U.S. deaf and hard-of-hearing population.