Our local historians have a wealth of knowledge. I've been learning so much on our Deaf Welcome Tours. Be sure to book a tour for your family, church or school group. There's so much to do, learn and enjoy here in Carbon County. The vineyards, the shops, and coal mines are definitely a must-see, even before you take a ride on the whitewater rafts. I never thought I'd be learning so many languages in Carbon County, too.

Families are visiting the Deaf Welcome Center from all over the country, turning Lehighton into a linguistic paradise! When you see Sign Language conversations around town, don't assume the signers are using American Sign Language (ASL)—many visitors are communicating in different signed languages. It's amazing!

A deaf family visited the Deaf Welcome Center recently, with tan skin and dark hair. I thought they were Hispanic. In actuality, they were from North Africa and used Arabic Sign Language. They knew enough ASL to communicate with us, but many signs were very different. We had lots of laughs as we conversed with each other.

Americans shake the letter "T," for the word "bathroom." In Arabic Sign Language, they wiggle our letter "I," which means "insurance" in ASL. I didn't think they would be asking me for an insurance policy!

We figured it out. You can't be afraid to "get loose" in sign language. Sometimes you have to act things out to convey your thought.

Anyone can learn to sign. Babies can even sign before their first birthday. Signing babies are so adorable to watch. Imagine having a conversation with your 10-month-old!

You can register for an ASL Family Class, Baby Signs® or Deaf Welcome Dance class at the Deaf Welcome Center this Fall. Day, evening and Saturday classes are still available for September. Call (610) 379-4800 to sign up or email info@deafwelcome.org to reserve your seat.

Next month, I'll tell you what happened when a man, learning ASL on his own, tried to compliment a deaf woman. In the meantime, be a blessing to someone today!

Theressa DuBois