After my military experience, I noticed veterans with hearing loss or who became deaf due to the anti-malaria drugs administered to them in Southeast Asia. Being in the Deaf community and being a sign language interpreter, I noticed that there was a communication disconnect between health care services and the Deaf community. I consulted with friends and educators from the Deaf community, physicians, and first responders, and we assembled two learning tools. First, we created a dictionary that translates complicated medical terms into American Sign Language. Then, we developed a comprehensive online video course in ASL that focuses on daily communication and diagnostic communication needed for clear communication between Deaf people and health care providers.

Originally, we put together the Medi-Sign course in a traditional format (DVD) with an accompanying text. The pandemic and the technological advances prompted us to transfer Medi-Sign to an online format. This will make it accessible to the broader health care community. It cost $66,000 to complete the entire transition. All expenses were paid from volunteer contributions from within the organization except for the last $37,000.

The initial Medi-Sign development, coordination, filming, editing, text printing, etc, was funded by the following:

  • Institute for Emergency Medical Education
  • University of Alaska
  • Alaska Pacific University
  • M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust
  • Arthur Vining Davis Foundation
  • Washington National Foundation
  • Leonardt Foundation
  • Aetna Insurance
  • Safeco Insurance
  • AGFA Corporation
  • Norman Archibald Charitable Foundation
  • Charis Fund
  • Culpepper Foundation
  • Dreyfus Foundation
  • Fair Foundation
  • Frost Foundation
  • Grover Herman Foundation
  • Dr. Harry J. Heeb Foundation
  • Security Pacific Bank
  • Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
  • Smith-Kline Beecham
  • Wharton Foundation
  • and 7 Other Private Donors

All administrative duties are completed by volunteers. Funds are only raised to pay for project needs.

We’re going to give Medi-Sign to health delivery services throughout the United States and Canada at no charge. I hope that you can support our work and help us take care of this final balance. Your contribution will provide better communication between health care and the Deaf community. Thank you for your time and consideration.