Signspaces: ASL Literacy

Signspaces

Signspaces: ASL Literacy

Signspaces: An all-in-one ASL education platform for K-12 and higher education, bridging literacy and STEM for Deaf and Hard of Hearing learners.

Salt Lake City, UT, USA

USA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students face major barriers in language, literacy, and STEM education. About 70% of Deaf children experience language deprivation—largely because 90% of hearing parents do not know American Sign Language (ASL). This results in communication gaps at home and “dinner table syndrome,” where DHH children are excluded from everyday conversations, missing out on essential language development. In school, the challenges continue. Most DHH students graduate reading at a 2nd or 3rd grade level—far behind their hearing peers. Educators are forced to rely on a mix of disconnected ASL programs, video tools, and curricula, which increases costs and complicates instruction. Critically, most tools fail to integrate ASL with core subjects like science, math, or reading. Globally, over 70 million Deaf individuals, and millions more Hard of Hearing, face similar barriers due to a lack of accessible, integrated ASL learning solutions. Signspaces addresses these issues by offering an all-in-one platform that combines ASL learning, literacy development, and STEM access—empowering DHH students to close the literacy gap and thrive in education.

Signspaces is an all-in-one ASL education platform designed to improve literacy and expand STEM access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students. It integrates ASL curriculum, video assessments, and learning resources into a single, user-friendly platform that is accessible anytime, anywhere. Signspaces works as a browser extension for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Opera (with Safari coming soon). When added to the browser, users can turn on ASL mode. Words on any webpage are automatically highlighted, and clicking on a highlighted word shows a video demonstrating the corresponding ASL sign. This feature helps students learn and review ASL vocabulary in real-time while browsing. Key features include: Learning and reviewing ASL vocabulary and phrases Saving words for later review Customizing video speed for personalized learning Searching for words in the ASL dictionary Adjusting learning levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced) By integrating ASL learning directly into everyday browsing, Signspaces makes language acquisition more accessible, helping DHH students improve literacy and gain access to critical educational content, especially in STEM fields.

Signspaces serves Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students and the educators who support them, particularly in K-12 and higher education. DHH students are often left behind due to limited access to ASL-integrated learning tools. Most graduate with literacy levels equivalent to 2nd or 3rd grade, and about 70% experience language deprivation—largely because 90% of hearing parents do not know ASL. These early language gaps carry into the classroom, where students struggle with reading, STEM subjects, and social-emotional development. Educators are also underserved. They often rely on a patchwork of ASL programs, video libraries, and curriculum tools—costly, inefficient, and time-consuming to manage. Signspaces provides a powerful, all-in-one ASL learning platform that simplifies teaching and supports student success. Educators can use Signspaces to integrate ASL into daily instruction, boost student literacy, and make content—especially in STEM—more accessible. Students can learn at their own pace through real-time ASL videos while browsing the web. By empowering teachers with the right tools and giving students consistent access to ASL, Signspaces helps close the literacy gap and builds a stronger foundation for lifelong learning.