ASLTAC: About Us

INTRODUCTION
The American Sign Language Teachers Association of Colorado (ASLTAC) is an organization of local sign language instructors and tutors in the State of Colorado. ASLTAC is affiliated with American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA), a national organization of professionals involved with teaching American Sign Language and Deaf Studies.

ASLTAC HISTORY
Since the mid-1960s, there has been a tremendous growth in the number of sign language classes taught in the United States. The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) established a Communicative Skills Program (CSP) in the 1960s to train sign language instructors.

As the result of increased demands of ASL programs and qualified instructors, in the spring of 1975, the Sign Instructors Guidance Network (SIGN) was formed through the efforts of CSP and, since 1976, SIGN has become the national certifying body for ASL instructors. Starting in 1985, local SIGN chapters were established. In order to reflect the goals of the organization more clearly, SIGN was renamed American Sign Language Teachers Association in 1992.

In 1999, local ASLTA chapters have expanded to 33 locations, and the Colorado chapter, Colorado Sign Instructors (CSI) was founded in 1990. The first president was Tom Riggs. In 1992, CSI was renamed ASLTA of Colorado, or ASLTAC.

In the spring of 2004, the Governor of the State of Colorado signed House Bill 04-1037, which allows higher education institutions and school districts to treat American Sign Language as a foreign language, and to grant academic credit for completion of ASL courses or demonstrated proficiency in ASL, to meet schools‚ foreign language requirements.

ASLTAC OBJECTIVES are to promote professional quality in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies instruction and programs, both locally and in connection with ASLTA.

The annual ASLTAC workshop provides speakers from around the country and local professional development trainings. Conference offerings present the newest and hottest topics to enhance teaching skills and knowledge of all aspects of ASL linguistics, Deaf culture, and its community, as well as to increase the number of qualified instructors in the State of Colorado.

Coordinate a standard ASL curriculum for credit ASL programs, including syllabi and course materials that encourage a cultural perspective of Deafness, and incorporate accurate measures for testing and evaluation of ASL students.
Recruit future instructors or tutors from within the Deaf community, provide peer support among future instructors and tutors through team-teaching with Deaf professionals, stimulate interest in and appreciation of ASL and Deaf Studies, and foster the exchange ideas and information on best teaching practices and materials in all levels of education.
Collaborate with other organizations working with American Sign Language, such as the Colorado Registry of Interpreters of the Deaf (CRID), the Colorado Commission on Higher Education, the Colorado Department of Education, and the Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind. Consult and provide support network with the administrators of ASL programs in the State of Colorado.
Maintain a directory of local ASL instructors, tutors, and programs (including local certified instructors) and records of workshop participation for certification by ASLTA.