Sign Language & Multi-Modal Communication Lab

Join us for a panel discussion featuring AAC users! Welcome to all!

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/qx6zRx41HvFvb5c29

WHEN: April 29th, 2026

WHERE: Virtual (bit.ly/UMAACpanel)

TIME: 1:30-3:30 PM EST

Generously made possible by the Larry Motola Linguistics Fund, established to support the development of curriculum projects and research related to cognitive process and conditions, and their interaction with language and neurodiversity.

Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC) systems and devices create access and promote equity when using signed or spoken language is a barrier. Typically, these individuals with expressive language impairment have disabilities like autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and others. AAC devices can also be used by those who need temporary assistance, like those recovering from surgery. As the name suggests, these devices are used to add to the individual's existing communication and give them the opportunity to fully realize their communication capabilities.

AAC devices come in many different forms. Some lower tech options include pointing to letters, pointing to pictures, gestures/facial expressions, and picture exchange communication systems. High tech options include using an app on a digital device and using a speech-generating device. One person's AAC may include one or multiple of these options, they are all part of the communication system.

Join our AAC From All Sides Zoom panel to learn from AAC users, speech-language pathologists, educators, engineers, as well as assistive technology specialists about using and improving AAC systems so that we can all communicate more inclusively.

WHEN: April 9th, 2026
WHERE: Online
TIME: 2:30-4:00 PM EST
CART captioning & ASL-English Interpreting provided

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/6HUGV6Ar8ywvTAok6

Generously made possible by the Larry Motola Linguistics Fund, established to support the development of curriculum projects and research related to cognitive process and conditions, and their interaction with language and neurodiversity.

Check out our new lab website!

www.signgesturelab.org

UM Sign Language & Gesture Lab Welcome to the Lab! The Sign Language and Multi-Modal Communication Lab is dedicated to exploring human communication across signed, spoken, and gestural modalities. We study a diverse range of signed languages, including American Sign Language, Black ASL, Turkish Sign Language, Nicaraguan Sign Lang...

https://lsa.umich.edu/linguistics/news-events/all-news/recent-news/the-art-of-gesture--linguistics-students-unlock-multimodal-commu.html

The Art of Gesture: Linguistics Students Unlock Multimodal Communication | U-M LSA Linguistics The LING 497 Capstone Seminar gives upper-level linguistics students the opportunity to delve deeper into different aspects of the field. Students are encouraged to bring their interests to class, explore topics in depth, and synthesize their learning through discussion and independent research. Thi...

Join us as we explore organizations centering neurodiversity and disability from the local community! Groups will table in the Union, talk about the work they are doing, and advertise ways to get involved! This event will include a sensory/quiet space, local organizations from UM and Ann Arbor area, adaptive sports, and catering.

Welcome to all!

Generously made possible by Larry Motola Linguistics Fund, which funds the development of curriculum projects about cognitive processes and conditions and their interaction with language.

Please RSVP here: https://forms.gle/7YeuxUcdqDhXuGMfA

Where: Anderson Room - Michigan Union 1st Floor

When: Monday, February 23rd

Time: 3:00-5:00 PM EST

Join us for the Dr. Andrew Foster Lecture Series: CBDS at Year 5 – Building Legacy, Empowering Future 🗓 Feb 20 | 12–2 PM | Don’t miss this powerful conversation among the Black Deaf changemakers who established the Center of Black Deaf Studies at Gallaudet!

Image Description:
A professional event flyer with a purple and gold background design. The flyer reads “Dr. Andrew Foster Lecture Series: CBDS at Year 5 – Building Legacy, Empowering Future." The event date is Friday, February 20, 2026, with a panel from 12–1 PM and a reception from 1–2 PM. The panelists named are Carolyn McCaskill, Evon Black, Lindsay Dunn, and Joseph Hill as moderator. A Zoom webinar link is included for hybrid attendance.

Zoom Webinar - 🔗 https://gu.live/pqske

https://www.twincities.com/2026/01/28/team-usa-stillwater-snow-sculpture-removed/

Team USA snow sculpture in Stillwater removed over ‘ICE out’ messaging The World Snow Sculpting Championship work by Team USA included messages spelled out in American Sign Language.

Michigan House GOP abruptly blocks $645M in spending, cutting into 78 programs

"Detroit's new Mayor and City Council can help lead in making Detroit a more accessible city for all."

Please read and share this new op-ed, co-written by so many friends of our lab!

Theodore Dorsette III is a longtime community partner, Detroit Black Deaf Advocates has been a valued member of lab events, and our lab director, Professor Natasha Abner, is a member of Detroit Disability Power and has collaborated with them on several projects since 2020.

We can’t say enough how much we value them and all their co-authors for everything they do for the disability justice movement.

Op-Ed: New mayor, City Council must serve disabled Detroiters - BridgeDetroit The disability community is demanding what every Detroiter deserves: an accessible seat at the table and an anti-ableist government that works for them.

Join the UM Linguistics Department tomorrow, December 10th, from 4–5 p.m. in Lorch 403 for our Undergraduate Capstone Poster Session! Sixteen of our undergraduate students will be sharing their final projects, with topics ranging from innovations in speech-language pathology curricula to whether those famously gesture-y Italians are also more expressive with their emoji use. Light refreshments will be provided.

Happening today!