Building Bridges Through American Sign Language, Deaf Awareness, and Inclusion
I'm Debbie Lawrence, founder of Easy Signing. For more than 25 years, I have had the privilege of helping hearing and Deaf communities connect through American Sign Language, Deaf Awareness, and Inclusion training. From toddlers with tiny hands to seniors in their 90s with arthritic fingers, I've had the joy of watching thousands of students discover the beauty of sign language. My classroom is a place where people feel encouraged, successful, and excited to learn. My mission is simple: to transform communication barriers into connection, understanding, and belonging through American Sign Language, Deaf Awareness, and Inclusion training.
My connection to the Deaf community is more than professional—it is deeply personal.
My journey began with a simple sign language book purchased after hearing a missionary speak about Deaf ministry. What started as curiosity grew into a lifelong calling that became deeply personal. I experienced temporary deafness and blindness from viral encephalitis and later navigated life with a husband who became profoundly late-deafened from a glioma brain tumor. Sign language became the language of our home. We raised children we birthed from our hearts, including children with speech and communication challenges. Even our family collie learned to understand and respond to signs. Those experiences taught me something I carry into every class: Communication changes lives.
Making a Difference Through Communication
Whether I'm teaching a parent, a healthcare professional, a church group, a business team, a student, or a senior citizen, my goal is always the same: to help people feel confident, capable, and connected. One of my favorite moments happened in Zambia, where I helped establish the first Deaf Resource Training Center in Ndola. The students, ages 10 to 18, had never attended school and had little or no access to language. After weeks of creative lessons, a simple drama skit helped them realize that the names they were learning actually belonged to them. One by one they rushed to the board, proudly identifying their names and fingerspelling them for everyone to see. It was a true Glory Hallelujah moment. From that day forward, learning accelerated because they finally understood who they were. Today, I continue to teach, speak, train, and advocate because I believe communication is one of the greatest gifts we can give another person. So come on.
