The document announces several American Sign Language programs being offered at the Town of Esopus Library. These include a Baby/Toddler Story Hour, Summer ASL Reading Series for children ages 5-8, and Teen ASL Classes for ages 11-17 held on Wednesdays throughout July and August. The programs aim to teach basic ASL vocabulary and communication skills to help facilitate early language development and communication. They are being led by Dr. Jennifer Delora, who has over 20 years of experience teaching ASL. All programs are being offered free of charge through the library.

1. The Town of Esopus Library presents:
CLUB ASL ®
Club ASL ®
A FIRST of its kind in the Hudson Valley, these ASL Programs are brought to you by the Town of Esopus Library, Lindsay
Jankovitz & Dr. Jennifer Delora of Access Deaf/Disability Consulting.
BABY/TODDLER STORY HOUR
Every 1st
& 3rd
Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., your babies & toddlers will not only be able to enjoy their usual story time, but
enjoy learning American Sign Language. While enjoying story time, children & their caretakers, will learn simple ASL
language skills. From words featured in the stories to valuable communicative/expressive signs & more.
Research has proven that children will learn to express themselves gesturally before they’re able to reproduce speech*.
The simple signs learned during story time will facilitate early communication of your baby/toddler.
“Sign language provides the earliest possible mode through which children can learn expressive language skills. Use of sign language with babies or young children, of
any hearing status, is known to promote early communication. “…children begin to learn language long before they are physically able of reproducing speech.
“Given exposure to a visual language of signs, children are able to master language at an earlier stage. Signing children can communicate, while their peers are still
frustrated over the inability to tell caregivers what they want or need” They can learn to communicate their needs or wants more clearly.” (credit: American Society
of Deaf Children: Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies: The Evidence Supports It”)
SUMMER ASL READING SERIES:
Every 1st
& 3rd
Tuesday, the Summer Reading Series will include reading in ASL as well as LEARNING simple ASL. From key
signs in the books being read, children (5-8 years old) will learn basic ASL to enhance their growing spoken language/
communication skills, as well as their curiosity & imagination.
TEEN ASL CLASSES:
Beginning Wednesday July 1st
, and EVERY Wednesday of the month through August 26th
, area TEENS (ages 11-17), will
be able to attend actual ASL Classes.
Students will learn the basics of ASL including vocabulary, Deaf Culture, hand-shapes, classifiers & ASL Level One ASL
Communication methods. Whether your teen wants to delve into the potential educational/career opportunities ASL
provides or just want to learn the “4th
most used/studied language in the US”, fun is going to be key in learning!
BRING A FRIEND! ASL is always more fun when learning with a friend; someone you can practice with in between class
meetings to retain what you’ve learned, have fun and make new friends!
*If possible, students are encouraged to bring a notebook & pen/pencil and a folder to hold the study materials.
* registration through the library is strongly suggested & may be done by calling (845) 338-5580 or stopping by the
circulation desk at the library

2. AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE ALPHABET
**These programs are offered through the Town of Esopus Library FREE OF CHARGE**
*About Dr. Jennifer Delora, ABDA* : As a member of the American Board of Disability Analysts (ABDA), with 20+ years of teaching ASL from teaching Deaf students
in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Adult Continuing Education & private teaching to being a professor of ASL at New York University, Dr. Delora brings her
first hand expertise in ASL & Deaf Culture back to her home-town Hudson Valley. She has taught ASL & Deaf Culture in conjunction with her award winning career
as an actress & technical advisor in film & TV, some of her famous students have included AnnMargret, Kris Kristofferson, JoBeth Williams & many more. She’s also
signed onstage alongside Liza Minnelli, Reba McEntire, and Wynonna Judd & even performed in concert with the GoGo’s as a professional ASL Music Performer!