GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Under the provisions of the regulations for the degree

MASTER OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGN

on

Monday, April 15, 2024 

2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EST

West Architecture -Room 155

Join Zoom Meeting

https://gatech.zoom.us/j/96091732186?from=addon

Avery Welkley

will present a thesis defense entitled,

"A Co-Designed Framework for Advancing American Sign Language (ASL) Digital Learning" 

Advisor:

Dr. Leila Aflatoony, Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design

Committee:

Dr. Leandro Miletto Tonetto, Georgia Tech School of Industrial Design

Angela Ashworth, ASL Instructor

Faculty and students are invited to attend this presentation.

Abstract

Since its origins at the American School for the Deaf in 1817, American Sign Language (ASL) has drastically increased in use among the Deaf, hard-of-hearing, non-verbal, and hearing populations in the United States and Canada. Despite its surge in popularity, ASL holds a web of complexities and misconceptions that differentiate it from spoken languages. This thesis explores in-depth some of the common challenges hearing adult ASL learners face, along with the gaps between in-person and digital ASL learning, employing inquiry-based methods. Then, using the co-design method, this thesis further explores how to design future ASL learning appropriate to the community's expectations and provides a framework for future ASL learning platforms, identifying necessary qualities and topics of instruction to be included on digital platforms.