Animated Dictionary for Deaf Children Unveiled

The Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf and marblemedia have launched the first children’s animated dictionary of American Sign Language, with the prototype now available online at www.aslphabet.com.

The project allows deaf children to look up words in their own primary language of ASL along with the English counterpart.

The project was a collaboration between multiple organizations in three countries, and used funding from the Inukshuk Wireless Learning Plan Fund. Other collaborators include acclaimed deaf animator Braam Jordaan from South Africa and Sam Supalla, a deaf linguist at the University of Arizona.

Current plans are to enhance the functionality of the animated diction and increase the search potential form 100 to 1,500 words.

An extensive fundraising effort has been undertaken to pay for the completion of the project. Donations can be made through the Canadian Cultural Society of the Deaf’s website at www.deafculturecentre.ca/Public/DonationHome.aspx.