Hands United
Supporting immigrant families with children who are Deaf or hard of hearing to connect and grow with their child.
Now Enrolling
ASL Classes in Spanish
8-week online classes beginning November 16.
Hotline Workshop
Join Hands United for a three-part training focused on accessible communication and navigation when supporting Deaf immigrant communities.
Around the World: Latin America
Explore the sign languages of Latin America in this live, Deaf-led class for professionals, beginning January 9 with Mexican Sign Language (LSM), followed by Colombian Sign Language (LSC).
Live • Online • Professional Development
Around the World: Sign Languages
Learn 7 different sign languages through 14 hours of recorded, Deaf-led instruction.
1.4 CEUs • Asynchronous • Taught in ASL • $100
Learn Anytime & Stay Connected
Async CEU Courses
Earn CEUs on your own schedule. Access recorded workshops anytime and learn at your own pace.
✔ Flexible • ✔ Self-Paced • ✔ Professional Development
Join Our Membership
Hands United provides specialized language access, legal and educational support, resource development, and virtual event services for schools, agencies, interpreters, attorneys, and organizations serving Deaf and multilingual communities.
Get 10% off workshops
Professional & Accessibility Services
Hands United provides specialized language access, educational support, and virtual event services for schools, agencies, interpreters, and organizations serving Deaf and multilingual communities.
Legal Professional Resources & Case Support
Resources and specialized support for attorneys, legal service providers, and advocates working with Deaf and hard of hearing immigrants.
Global sign language interpreters • DHH-specific evaluators • Country conditions experts • Communication evaluations • Consultation
Global Sign Language Interpreting
Interpreting support across global sign languages, including work alongside skilled Deaf interpreters.
IEP Translation Verification
Review Spanish IEP translations for accuracy, terminology, and clarity.
Custom Multilingual Dictionaries
Customized dictionaries connecting a spoken or written language with a signed language using the vocabulary your organization needs.
Virtual Event Support
Professional Zoom hosting, accessible virtual school tours, and other technical support for Deaf-centered events.
New & Featured Resources
Search All Dictionaries
Explore our new multilingual ASL dictionary. Search across all languages in one place.
Buy Our Printed Dictionaries
Support our work and access full-color multilingual ASL dictionaries for families and classrooms.
Digital Know Your Rights Card
Interactive digital rights card. Choose your sign language and watch the video in your language.
Download Know Your Rights Card
Printable and downloadable Know Your Rights cards for ICE situations and legal protection.
Upcoming Programs
Hands United offers classes, workshops, and community programs supporting Deaf immigrants, families, and professionals working in multilingual environments.
Stay Connected
Get notified about new classes, workshops, community programs, resources, and other Hands United updates.
Subscribe to Our NewsletterResources Galore!
We are excited to share our resources with you!
We have a searchable Spanish/ASL dictionary available online in our Spanish website.
We have also made communication boards for use in ICE/immigration situations. Please download them and share them as needed.
Languages Supported
To date, we have provided ASL classes and resources in Tigrinya, Amharic, Burmese, Russian, Spanish, and Chuukese. We look forward to continuing to grow in our outreach. Vote on our next languages here
Who We Are
Beginning in 2021 through the Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth (CDHY) in Washington State, we offered American Sign Language in spoken Spanish to 6 families. Since that time, we have grown to over 330 families across the US. In May 2024, we decided to start our non-profit organization to offer more services to our families.
Our board members have over 50 years of experience working with Deaf children and immigrant families. We also partner with organizations in 10 states. Click here for more information about our board.
Our Mission
Hands United’s mission is to reduce language deprivation among Deaf and hard-of-hearing children in immigrant families by addressing the language and cultural barriers that often prevent effective communication and access to essential services.
We empower families by providing comprehensive support that includes multilingual American Sign Language classes, English/ASL instruction for newly arrived Deaf individuals, enrichment workshops, school and IEP advocacy, immigration and legal resource connections, community support programs, and employment readiness services.
In addition, we strengthen the professional ecosystem that serves Deaf communities by offering interpreter and translation services, professional development workshops, and media/resource development. As part of our commitment to equitable access, we also support and provide pathways for the certification of foreign sign language interpreters—particularly for those coming from countries where no formal certification system exists—ensuring they can continue to serve their communities with recognized qualifications.
Through these combined efforts, we strive to foster lifelong inclusivity, expand sign language proficiency across diverse populations, and promote greater independence, access, and self-determination for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their families.
Teachers Pay Teachers
Some of our earlier multilingual resources remain available on Teachers Pay Teachers. Our newest and most up-to-date materials are now available through the Hands United Store.
