Video description:
Dr. Francis Casale (male with gray and white hair and a white mustache, wearing a light colored, long sleeve, collared shirt and dark sleeveless vest) sits in front of a wooden wall and signs into the camera.

Video transcript:
Hello, my name is Dr. Francis Casale.  I'm from Covina, California where I work as a pastor for Deaf, DeafBlind, and hearing congregants.  I'm interested in learning more about PTASL because it has helped me immensely. It offers a greater depth of information and can convey a more cohesive picture of the environmental context so I can better orient myself.  Using PTASL, I have access to much more information about my environment and the world around me.  As a blind person, I had felt socially isolated and alone in a crowd before being introduced to PT.  With PT, I'm connected and interact more naturally just like anyone else might.  Learning PT has been incredibly inspiring for me and I'm sincerely grateful for PTASL, which bridges the language of the Deaf and DeafBlind communities.  It is simply beautiful.

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

#WhyISignPTASL 

Video description:
Jose (a male with short dark hair wears a short sleeve black polo shirt and black sunglasses) stands in front of a wood paneled wall, looks into the camera, and shares his story.
 
Video transcript:
Hello. I’m Jose Amaya. I’m DeafBlind from California. I work at JCPenney, mostly stocking things in the back and setting up shoe displays. I prefer to use a PTASL interpreter because information is more clear. They provide back channeling and environmental information on my back or on my arm. This makes the interpretation much more clear. #WhyISignPTASL. 

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

#WhyISignPTASL 

Video description:
Jasper (a Latinx male with short dark hair and a goatee, wears a short sleeve black shirt and glasses with red lenses) stands in front of a wood paneled wall, looks into the camera, and shares his story.
 
Video transcript:
I’m Jasper. My sign name is made with an X handshape and as if you are pulling at your beard on your chin. I’m DeafBlind, Latinx, and live in the state of Washington. I teach protactile American Sign Language. PTASL is important because without it great inequality exists.  With PTASL, everyone is on an equal playing field. #WhyISignPTASL

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

#WhyISignPTASL 

Video description:
Bruce (Caucasian male with receding brown hair, a goatee, and a full mustache, wearing a short-sleeved blue polo shirt) sits in front of a green wall and signs his story into the camera.
 
Video transcript:
Hello there.  I’m Bruce Visser.  My sign name is a B and a V on the side of my chin.  I live in Seattle.  I am DeafBlind.  I use PTASL for many reasons, the biggest of which is my experience with ASL.  Visual ASL has a long-standing history with a rich culture.  It has its own rules, standards, processing, a way people think and their attitude, specific ways people receive and express information, and all of these are unique to ASL.  I noticed as I used it I became more frustrated, and it became more challenging to access this visual information.  With PTASL, it was amazing because the entire language is based in touch.  How we sit, how we stand, how we communicate with one another tactilely, and how we set up our space.  It even influences our turn taking norms.  With the experiences, attitudes, the open mindedness and open heartedness of the DeafBlind community, PTASL allows us to feel more engaged and excited because we can understand information better through touch.  We can teach classes on technology, or PTASL, or evenASL.  We can communicate and connect with DeafBlind friends, Deaf friends in the Deaf community, our neighbors, and the hearing community.  PTASL is for everyone, and can be used by anyone, anywhere, and opportunities truly abound.   There are even DeafBlind families who communicate in PTASL, all of their interactions occur tactilely, and they are able to have connection and conversation with one another.  It’s amazing.  It all goes back to the attitude, perspective, motivation, and engagement of a person.  I’m excited to see how PTASL continues to grow. #WhyISignPTASL

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

#WhyISignPTASL 

Video description:
Gerard (Haitian male with long braided hair, goatee and mustache, wearing a bandana on his head, and a light blue short sleeved shirt and black shorts) stands in front a wood paneled wall and signs into the camera.

Video transcript: 
​I'm Gerard Romilus. I live in Maryland. I'm Deaf and sighted. I work on the maintenance team in a hotel.  I use protactile American Sign Language (PTASL) so I can communicate better with my wife.  We've struggled trying to communicate, and finding PTASL has really helped to lessen the stress. For example, if I need to tell her that I need to pick up something, I can show her with a map on her hand. It's so much more clear. It's so exciting to be able to communicate like that! #WhyISignPTASL​

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​

Video description:
Diane (female with long gray braided hair that drapes over her shoulder, wears a long sleeved black shirt and glasses) stands in front of a dark background and signs into the camera. 

Video transcript:
Hello. I'm Diane Poulin.  I am DeafBlind and I'm from Tacoma, WA. I'd like to share with you a few reasons that PTASL is so important to me. First, I recently purchased a new computer monitor and when the person delivered it and started to explain how to use it, I missed what was being said because I was trying to look at the computer screen at the same time. Through the use of PTASL, all of the information being shared would be available to me, and that would aide in my understanding and a quicker acquisition of the new technology. That's one cool benefit of PTASL.  Another example is when attending a lecture or presentation. When the interpreter is seated in the distance, I am unable to see what they are signing. Through the use of PTASL, I not only know what is being said by the presenter, but I also know what is going on around me.

For example, if a person walks into the room, or if a person is being identified by name, PTASL incorporates all of the information into the interpretation. This allows me to have full access to information.  A third example is when the lighting in the environment makes it difficult to see what is being signed, PTASL is still effective because it is dependent on touch, not sight.  Being able to communicate fully allows me to connect with others and to fully understand and participate in the conversation. Being able to understand communication is essential. PTASL really does make a difference. #WhyISignPTASL

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​

Video description:
Erik (male with long curly hair, full beard and a mustache, wearing a hooded sweatshirt and khaki pants) stands in front of an elevator door and signs into the camera.

Video transcript:
I'm Erik Amaya.  I am DeafBlind.  I'm from Los Angeles, CA.  I learned PTASL because as a DeafBlind person I rely on touch for communication.  It has been the best decision and I am so appreciative of it.  #WhyISignPTASL

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​

Video description:
Kelly (a female with long brown hair pulled back into a ponytail, wearing a short sleeved black shirt) is sitting in front of a black background and is signing into the camera.

Video transcript:
Hello! I'm Kelly. My sign name is a K that moves over top of my arm, and is modified for PTASL where the K actually touches my arm.  I'm Chicago. I'm DeafBlind.  I'm a mother, an ASL instructor, and I also host various DeafBlind events such as, DeafBlind cruises, community events, and ProTactile Happy Hour (PTHH).  I love PTASL, because I don't miss any part of the communication, or anything that a person is doing.  So, for example, if a person is laughing, they can indicate that to me through touch, with what's called a "claw handshape". Being able to touch my body to show that they are laughing, I can feel that.  Or, if they take my hand and put it to their vocal cords, I can feel them actually laughing.  So, I'm not missing out on what's going on. That's why I love PTASL!

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​

Video description:
​Carrie (a female with shoulder length brown hair, wears a grey suit jacket over a flowered blouse) is sitting in front of a light background and is signing into the camera.

Video transcript:
Hello!  I’m Carrie Biell. I’m from Seattle, Washington. I am hearing. I provide Vocational Rehabilitation services for the Department of Services for the Blind (DSB), in the state of Washington.  My mother is DeafBlind so I’ve used PTASL my entire life.  As I got older, I learned more about PTASLfrom other DeafBlind community members, and it has always been my preference to honor the DeafBlind community’s language.  For me, PTASL is the most clear, direct way to communicate with DeafBlind individuals.  It provides environmental information, and the grammatical markers typically found in facial expressions in ASL, all in one beautiful language.  #WhyISignPTASL

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​

Video description:
CM (a female with shoulder length brown hair, wears a long sleeved black shirt) looks into the camera and signs.

Video transcript:
Hello! I am CM Hall.

I'm the co-director for the DeafBlind Interpreting National Training and Resource Center (DBI) grant.  Our goal is to train more interpreters who know and understand ProTactile American Sign Langauge (PTASL).  We recognize that many DeafBlind people use PTASL, and we want to make sure interpreters are familiar with that language.  This includes an understanding of how best to meet both cultural and linguistic needs.  Part of our initiative is to raise awareness and understanding around the use of PTASL as a language, and the reasons people choose to use it.  We need your help to get the word out.  We would like to collect short videos addressing why you choose to use PTASL.  There are specific items we would like you to address in your video.

First, tell us your name.  Second, tell us if you are Deaf, DeafBlind, hard of hearing, hearing, or sighted.  Third, where do you live?  Fourth, if you have a job, tell us more about where you work and what you do.  Fifth, and we would like you to really open up and share on this one, tell us why you choose to use PTASL and what benefits you gain from its use.  Why have you embraced this language and how have you taken it and made it your own?  Last, please add the hashtag, #WhyISignPTASL to your video.  That's all there is to it! Keep in mind, we want to keep these videos brief, because our goal is to share them on YouTube and Facebook, because our goal is to share them on YouTube and Facebook, to raise awareness, increase recognition, and to promote understanding of ProTactile ASL.  If you are interested in helping us, and are willing to share a video, please email that video to hallcm@wou.edu when you have completed it.
​
Thank you so much in advance!
Touch you later!

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

#WhyISignPTASL ​​