Overview
Duration
8 weeks
Group Size
4-10 students
Tuition
Under $14/hour
Level
Beginner
Class Time
1.5 hours/week
Location
ILC, Carmel
Prerequisites
none
What You’ll Learn
Approach and communicate with Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and nonverbal individuals safely and respectfully.
Execute ADA-compliant interactions during medical emergencies, arrests, investigations, and rescues.
Use essential ASL for emergency response, including medical, trauma, law-enforcement, and fire vocabulary.
Fingerspell and understand fingerspelling for names, addresses, phone numbers, and key incident details.
Conduct scenario-based emergency interactions using clear, accurate ASL and visual strategies.
Use communication aids such as phone notes, apps, and video relay effectively in the field.
Work properly with ASL interpreters and CDIs, knowing when they are legally required and how to collaborate.
Details
Dates:
1/8/26-3/26/26
Time:
Thursdays, 2:30pm-5:00pm
Cost:
$350.00
(Does not include text books and optional tuition insurance)
Itinerary
Each week includes speaking practice, games, cultural context, and real-world role-plays. You’ll use everything you learn — right away.
ASL for First Responders Weekly Focus & Goals
Week 1: Deaf culture foundations — communication differences, misconceptions, safe approach techniques.
Week 2: Legal obligations — ADA requirements, patient/subject rights, medical & police encounter procedures.
Week 3: Visual communication strategies — gaining attention, gestures, environmental control (lighting, noise).
Week 4: Fingerspelling essentials — names, addresses, phone numbers, location-based spelling practice.
Week 5: Identity questions — Who/What/Where questions, communicating roles (officer, EMT, firefighter).
Week 6: Medical & trauma vocabulary — symptoms, pain scale, medications, basic vitals.
Week 7: Law enforcement vocabulary — commands, clarifications, safety language, de-escalation signing.
Week 8: Fire & rescue vocabulary — evacuation signs, hazard communication, environmental safety terms.
Week 9: Communication aids — phone notes, apps, video relay basics, when interpreters must be called.
Week 10: Working with interpreters — protocols for ASL interpreters & Certified Deaf Interpreters (CDIs).
Week 11: ASL comprehension — reading fingerspelling, recognizing emergency vocabulary in motion.
Week 12: Medical scenario practice — assessing symptoms, giving instructions, securing informed consent.
Week 13: Law enforcement scenario practice — traffic stops, witness statements, de-escalation roles.
Week 14: Fire & rescue scenario practice — evacuation procedures, mass-notification communication.
Week 15: Skills assessment — students perform full emergency interaction scenarios with cultural accuracy.
Week 16: Final capstone — integrated scene response, communication debrief, certificate demonstration.
Meet Your Instructor
Gina Harker
Instructor: American Sign Language
Meet Gina!
Gina Harker is an enthusiastic Deaf educator committed to creating inclusive and culturally lively learning environments. With over 15 years of experience teaching children, teens, and adults, including many from foster care and diverse backgrounds, she motivates students to feel confident, engaged, and inspired. Gina has taught American Sign Language (ASL) at Bethel University, IUPUI, and Wisdom Builders Homeschool High School, developing interactive lessons that promote participation, critical thinking, and real-world communication. She brings authenticity and insight to every classroom. Her teaching style highlights patience, clarity, and strong relationships, helping learners develop meaningful communication skills while cultivating a deep appreciation for Deaf culture. Drawing from Gina's own experiences as a Deaf individual and mother of two adult CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults), she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and family. Teacher Intro Video