Are you learning American Sign Language (ASL) to further your career? Are you interested in employment that involves ASL? Not sure where to begin? Look no further!
If you want a career where you sign daily or work with the deaf community at your job then you’re in luck. Since over 500,000 members of the deaf community use ASL and around 15% of adults report trouble hearing, there is an increasing demand for people with ASL skills to work with members of the deaf community.
This post consists of a basic list of the most common, abundant, and available professions across the US, along with a summary of their duties and responsibilities, that utilize ASL and work with the deaf community. Click on the hyperlinks associated with each career to learn more about that profession (e.g., salary and pay, training and educational requirements, and job outlook).
ASL Careers & Professions to Consider:
- Sign Language Interpreter
- Sign language interpreters are one of the most common professions that use ASL and work with deaf community on a daily basis. They provide equal access to information between people with differing languages (or communication styles) and cultures; they convey ASL in English and English in ASL. Interpreters provide communication between deaf and hearing people in any setting you can think of (e.g., legal, medical, educational, religious, governmental).
- Speech Language Pathologist
- Speech language pathologists evaluate, diagnose, and treat people who have speech and language impairments or disorders, swallowing issues, and communication disorders. Among other places, they work in schools, hospitals, and nursing care facilities.
- Psychologist
- Psychologists conduct research, offer therapy, provide counseling, and conduct diagnostic assessments in places like schools, universities, mental health centers, and hospitals. They work in people’s homes, schools, private practices, and medical offices.
- Employment/ Rehabilitation Counselor
- Employment counselors work with the deaf community to find employment (career opportunities or jobs). They provide personal and vocational counseling, organize services, and can work in a variety of settings (e.g., private or state agencies, nonprofit organizations, or rehabilitation centers). Rehabilitation counselors work specifically with people with disabilities and not only assist with employment, but also educational, medical, and other needs to help people live independently.
- Social Worker
- Social workers advocate, develop and refer people to services and programs, and help people solve and cope with problems. They work in private practices, schools, clinics, hospitals, the court system, nursing homes, and many other settings.
- Childcare Provider
- Childcare providers work with children under the age of five and their parents, in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, clinics, and childcare centers.
- Audiologist
- Audiologists diagnose, prevent, manage, and treat hearing loss, ear problems, and hearing disorders. They examine patients in clinical settings to determine the cause and extent of hearing loss. Audiologists also fit and monitor patients for hearing aids and cochlear implants. Audiologists can work in a variety of settings, such as schools, hospitals, clinics, or private practices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for audiologists is growing faster than all other occupations.
- Teacher
- Teachers for the deaf can work in mainstream public schools, residential schools for the deaf, or day schools for the deaf and teach grades pre-K through 12th. The only difference between teachers for deaf students and teachers for hearing students is that they use ASL instead of English to teach.
- American Sign Language Teacher
- Sign language teachers teach others ASL. It might be said that an unwritten rule exists for this occupation. These positions are often informally reserved for members of the Deaf community. It’s an unspoken norm that Deaf people are best suited to teach ASL as it is their native language.
- Police Officer
- Police officers that know ASL provide an important service to cities with a large Deaf population, such as Washington, D.C.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of ASL careers and occupations that provide the opportunity to work with the deaf community and use ASL. There are many professions that work occasionally with the deaf community and benefit from second language knowledge (e.g., occupational therapists, travel agents and tour guides, teacher aides, and EMTs).
Once you’ve researched ASL careers, and chosen a career path that suits your interests and passion, the next step is finding the right education to earn the degree, license, or certificate to qualify you to work in that profession. If you’re just beginning your ASL studies and need support, consider working with an ASL instructor through TakeLessons. Whatever your future path, knowing ASL will add immeasurable benefit to your life and I wish you luck.
Magen Hom