Independent publisher of award-winning books by Kelly Brakenhoff
Teaching tools to bridge worlds.
My first exposure to American Sign Language (ASL) came in grade school, when I learned a few signs from a Deaf family in my hometown. That small spark of curiosity led me to take ASL classes in high school and college, build lifelong friendships with Deaf individuals, and pursue a 30+ year career as an interpreter.
For educators, introducing ASL and Deaf culture into your classroom gives students the opportunity to learn a second language in a meaningful, inclusive way. More importantly, you are helping them understand communication access, respect for Deaf culture, and the value of belonging. Whether it’s learning a few simple signs, using ASL worksheets, or exploring Deaf community perspectives together, the resources here are designed to support your classroom and spark connections that can last a lifetime.
Here you’ll find a curated collection of must-read articles, research on ASL, insights into Deaf Culture, book-based learning tools, and inspiring Deaf creators to follow. It’s not a complete list (that would be like trying to catalog every grain of sand on the beach), but it’s a solid starting point for educators who want to create inclusive learning environments.
Now with New Zealand Sign Language )NZSL) resources added for global accessibility.
Activities for Kids
Learn signs from every Duke the Deaf Dog picture and chapter book from our YouTube videos by ASL teacher Amy Willman.
Watch the Duke the Deaf Dog picture book stories performed by ASL teacher Amy Willman.
Head over to the Downloads and Printables page to find coloring pages, puzzles, and more fun stuff for kids ages 3-10
Global Resources
Teaching Tips
Deaf Culture tips about making noise. In this video ASL Instructor Amy Willman explains etiquette about Deaf spaces and behavior.
Recommended Resources
Spotlight on Language First: Kelly interviews Dr. Kim Ofori-Sanzo https://kellybrakenhoff.com/spotlight-on-language-first-an-interview-with-kimberly-ofori-sanzo/
Sign language does not hinder speech development: https://www.gallaudet.edu/gallaudets-president-cordano-dispels-the-myths-of-language-acquisition/
Language development in deaf and hard-of-hearing children: https://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/national-resources/info/info-to-go/language-and-communication.html
More support for families: https://deafchildren.org/knowledge-center/asl-resources/sign-on/
Free ASL lessons! https://www.gallaudet.edu/asl-connect/asl-for-free/
ASL online classes: https://deafchildren.org/knowledge-center/asl-resources/sign-on/
VALIDEAF: An organization striving to end language deprivation for deaf children.
https://valideaf.org/
Learning more about cued speech: Learn to Cue
Deaf Creator Directory
Check out our curated list of Deaf creators, authors, educators, and businesses. If you are looking for books, resources, or inspiring voices from the Deaf community, this is a great place to start.
New Zealand Teacher-Created Resources
A Deaf school all the way in New Zealand, Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education, reached out to me with a beautiful question: Could they translate the Duke the Deaf Dog books into New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL)?
Of course my answer was yes.
It has long been one of my goals to provide resources beyond American Sign Language, making education more accessible to Deaf children worldwide. This project is just the beginning. I would love to expand Duke’s adventures into additional sign languages across different countries, so stay tuned. We’re just getting started.
Huge thanks to Julie Bode, a Deaf NZSL tutor, who worked alongside the NZSL Dictionary (https://www.nzsl.nz/) to help develop this project with care and authenticity. And thank you to Denise Kennedy for facilitating communication and compiling the materials, helping turn a hopeful idea into a real, usable resource for students and teachers.
Below, you’ll find my worksheets translated into NZSL — take a look and explore the writing & NZSL practice worksheets for all four Duke the Deaf Dog Picture Books. There are two versions of each, suitable for different age groups. In these worksheets, there are images of the NZSL for the word, retrieved from NZSL Dictionary (https://www.nzsl.nz/), and a blank for the student to write the word.
Writing & NZSL Practice
Once again, a heartfelt thank you to Ko Taku Reo Deaf Education New Zealand, Julie Bode, Denise Kennedy, and everyone who contributed to this incredible collaboration. It has been fantastic watching this project unfold, and I hope you enjoy reading Duke the Deaf Dog through a new lens, with NZSL.
If you, your organization, or your school are interested in translating Duke the Deaf Dog into other sign languages, I would truly love to connect. Let’s keep building bridges and making these stories accessible for children everywhere.
A note about deaf and Deaf
In our stories and on our website, when you see “deaf’”with a small “d,” it means someone might hear a little bit—or not at all—with one or both of their ears. But when you see “Deaf” with a big “D,” it means they are culturally Deaf and belong to a special community that often uses sign language to talk and share with each other. We use both words on purpose to show the difference between a medical condition and being part of a culture. Often you will see the word “Deaf” used as an inclusive term for all Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, DeafDisabled, and late-deafened children.