Did you know American Sign Language (ASL) is thought to have an upwards of 500,000 users throughout the United States? This would make sign language one of the top 5 American languages. The deaf community uses signing as a means of expression—to communicate feelings, convey ideas, and relate news. Sign language is a primary method of conversation for hundreds of thousands of Americans, yet it is noticeably absent from the United States’ biggest television news outlets.
Hands 4 News was formed out of the realization that television news and programming is not nearly as accessible enough to the deaf community as it should be. The lack of signing for news stations or closed-captioning for certain TV programs presents extreme challenges for American Sign Language users to fully understand the messages being conveyed on screen. Hands 4 News aims to provide full accessibility for deaf viewers.
Hands 4 News is dedicated to requiring sign language for television news stations—both at the national and local levels. Additionally, Hands 4 News advocates for mandatory closed captioning for the deaf community across all network and cable television stations. By doing so, we will increase the level of accessibility for news and television to fully include the deaf community in this critical form of media.
Hands 4 News formed as a result of the experiences of Jasmine and Caitlin Levine. Jasmine and Caitlin’s studies with acclaimed author and professor of American Sign Language, Russell Kane, led them to discover the importance of closed-captioning to the deaf community. The Levine girls soon realized the absence of American Sign Language from prominent news stations, such as CNN, FOX News, and MSNBC, among others. Additionally, Jasmine and Caitlin formed friendships with members of the deaf community through their experiences. They saw firsthand the struggles that ASL users face when turning to television for information. Together, Jasmine and Caitlin hope to raise awareness for American Sign Language on the news in order to create a more inclusive viewing experience.
American Sign Language is considered one of the most-used languages in the United States, with hundreds of thousands of users. Despite this, there is currently no effort to properly incorporate ASL on national or local news outlets. As a result, members of the deaf community must often rely on closed-captioning to fully understand the messages being presented on television. Despite the overwhelming importance of closed-captioning, this service does not always function smoothly on network and cable television. Misinterpreted words, missed phrases, and misspellings may plague TV captioning, affecting dialogue and potentially confusing viewers. Additionally, not every television channel requires closed-captioning for their programs, making it extremely difficult for members of the deaf community to discern information. Sign language should be a mandatory service in order to fully communicate the messages being delivered through television.
Hands 4 News recently started a petition on change.org to advocate for mandatory sign language in the news, as well as closed-captioning for all channels. Together, we can contribute to a better, more-informative viewing experience for deaf viewers. You can view the petition and sign the pledge by clicking on the button below:
Want to learn more? Feel free to contact us at support@hands4news.com with any questions or comments you may have about Hands 4 News, as well as our cause.