More on Tactile Sign Language 👇👇
Pro-Tactile (or Protactile) ASL — A Distinct Evolution
In recent years (especially since around 2007 in the U.S.), the DeafBlind community has developed **Pro-Tactile ASL (PTASL)** as a more independent, fully touch-based language. Unlike traditional tactile ASL (which adapts visual ASL into touch), PTASL:
- Is rooted entirely in touch.
- Uses the body as the "signing space" (not just hands in the air).
- Incorporates **haptic feedback** — touch signals for emotions, environmental info, backchanneling (like nodding equivalents), audience reactions, classifiers, and mapping.
- Allows richer, more natural conversation between DeafBlind people without relying on visual elements.
For example, PTASL can convey details like climbing a tree or cutting it down through direct tactile sensations that visual ASL can't fully transmit.
Why It Matters
Tactile sign language enables meaningful interaction, education, and social connection for deafblind individuals. Historical figures like Helen Keller famously used tactile fingerspelling and adapted signing to communicate and learn.
#TactileSignLanguage
#SignLanguage
#ASLIN
#DeafAwareness
How Does Tactile Sign Language Works?
The core technique is usually **hand-over-hand** or **hand-under-hand** signing:
- The deafblind person places their hands lightly over (or under) the signer's hands.
- They feel the shape, position, movement, and orientation of the signs through touch.
- This allows them to "read" the signs without needing to see them visually.
This approach makes standard visual sign languages (like American Sign Language — ASL, British Sign Language — BSL, etc.) accessible tactilely. Modifications are often needed because visual elements like facial expressions, body posture, or eye gaze can't be seen — so signers may add extra information through touch, pressure, or contact on the body.
#ASLIN
#TactileSignLanguage
#SignLanguage
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How Does Tactile Sign Language Works?
The core technique is usually **hand-over-hand** or **hand-under-hand** signing:
- The deafblind person places their hands lightly over (or under) the signer's hands.
- They feel the shape, position, movement, and orientation of the signs through touch.
- This allows them to "read" the signs without needing to see them visually.
This approach makes standard visual sign languages (like American Sign Language — ASL, British Sign Language — BSL, etc.) accessible tactilely. Modifications are often needed because visual elements like facial expressions, body posture, or eye gaze can't be seen — so signers may add extra information through touch, pressure, or contact on the body.
#ASLIN
#TactileSignLanguage
#SignLanguage
Have you ever seen someone how is Hearing Impaired, Speech impaired and Blind?
I know you will be like, what? His how is finis... No hold it.
His own is not finished. There is a communication pattern called TACTILE SIGN. What is it?
**Tactile sign language** (also called **tactile signing**) is a method of communication primarily used by people who are **deafblind** (having both significant hearing and vision impairments). It adapts manual sign languages or other signed systems so they can be received through **touch** rather than sight.
How does it work? We will share the info this week on #DeafAwareness posts.
#SignLanguage
#ASLIN
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5 Sep 2023
Great start to Day Two of the #socialhaptic communication and #deafblind interpreting conference with a presentation by Prof. Johanna Mesch. #tactilesignlanguage
ALT Photo of 4 people sat in front of a screen, one of whom is the presenter Prof. Johanna Mesch. The slide of the screen has an image of the hands of two tactile sign language users and the title of the presentation: Methodological issues in analysing tactile signed interaction and interpreting.
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アイルしながわの壁画には、天王洲に生きる人たちにまぎれて、直近で僕の心に残ってる人も描きました。
【アイルしながわ】
isleshinagawa.com/
#門秀彦 #kadohidehiko #触手話 #tactilesignlanguage #手話アート #signlanguageart #アイルしながわ #壁画 #wallpaint #art
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10 Jul 2022
#TactileSignLanguage at the Ush Coalition!! #UsherSyndrome #ushcoalition #deafblind #americansignlanguage
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16 Jun 2022
Tactile Sign Language is the language of the D/deafblind and is one of the ways the DB/db community communicates.
#DeafBlindAwareness #DeafBlindCommunity #Braille #TactileSignLanguage #AbilityNotDisability #Accessibility #DisabilityPride #AdaptiveCommunication #SignLanguage
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15 Jun 2022
Wondering how to get the attention of a D/deafblind person? Here are some useful techniques that are commonly used. Drop YOUR questions or additional preferred techniques below 👇
#DeafBlind #TactileSignLanguage
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9 Jun 2022
Love reading everyone’s comments! Please feel free to ask or share with me and I will reply as soon as I can.
#TactileSignLanguage #SignLanguage #DeafBlindAwareness
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25 May 2022
#DeafBlind communities create a new language of touch. #ProTactile began as a movement for autonomy & a system of tactile communication. Some linguists argue it’s becoming a language of its own bit.ly/3afP1QX
#TactileSignLanguage #DisabilityInclusion #InclusionMatters
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9 Aug 2021
Samantha Johnson, a #bioengineering grad student at @Northeastern, has built a robotic arm designed to use #TactileSignLanguage to enable more independence for people who are #deafblind. 🤖 #TactileCommunication #BlindNewWorld news.northeastern.edu/2021/0…
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5 Feb 2021
Assessment & dev. of #TactileCommunication for #deafblind learners? I’ve just make my tactile communication framework available – looking for users to pilot and feedback. Interested? @RCSLT @GivingVoiceUK #TactileSignLanguage #MSI #Haptic #BeKind bit.ly/TactileProject
ALT Image shows the hands of three people in conversation using tactile sign language
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5 Feb 2021
Interested in assessment & development of #TactileCommunication for #deafblind learners? I’ve just make my tactile communication framework available – I’m now looking for users to pilot and feedback. Interested? #TactileSignLanguage #MSI #Haptic #BeKind bit.ly/TactileProject
ALT image focuses on the hands of three people in conversation using using tactile sign
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9 Dec 2020
#DidYouKnow
Tactile signing is a common means of communication used by people with deafblindness. It is based on a sign language or another system of manual communication.
#Didyouknow
#tactilesignlanguage
#TalkingFingers
#SignLanguageAwareness
#ISignCommunity
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15 Jul 2019
Finally got my hands on a copy of this exciting new book! Great working with Gail Deuce, @drnicolagrove and Kaisa Launonen #TactileSignLanguage #SignLanguage
ALT Manual sign acquisition in children with developmental disabilities book
ALT Sign acquisition in children who are deafblind chapter
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1 Oct 2018
If you're in #London, you could help set a #WorldRecord tomorrow morning - join @sensecharity for the world's largest #TactileSignLanguage lesson! #BlindNewWorld london-post.co.uk/record-bre…
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28 Apr 2018
Adam chatting to SURG to find out how to support our guys to make new friends. WOW! #TotalCommunocation @sensecharity #BSL #DeafBlindManual #TactileSignLanguage
#BSLInterpreting
#deafblind
#Blind
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24 Apr 2018
Michael meeting Helene for the first time @touchbasepears both learning how to communicate with each other #DeafBlindManual #TactileSignLanguage and also trying to understand regional varieties of Sign Language. Sharon Michaels communicator guide was brilliant @sensecharity
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24 Apr 2018
Helene meeting Michael at SURG @touchbasepears for the first time and both learning how to communicate with each other. #DeafBlindManual #TactileSignLanguage #DeafBlindManual
@sensecharity
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