Aireyonah Crockett
Portfolio of ASL Education
My journey to ASL coincides with my journey toward embracing my Deaf identity. In many ways, my path to teaching is just as interconnected. Learning ASL provided me with more than a language—it opened the door to a new community, a sense of belonging, and a clearer understanding of who I am.
Teaching ASL emerged from that same place: a desire to foster access, build meaningful connections, and support others as they begin and navigate their own language journeys.
Summarization Script:
Aireyonah is a graduate student in the MASLEd program whose work is driven by a deep curiosity about how people see and shape the world around them. As a Black Deaf/hard-of-hearing person who grew up without full access to language or identity, they’ve long sought out stories, histories, and conversations that open up new ways of understanding — and being understood.
Their academic path has been shaped by exploration and adaptability. Starting in community college with interests in math and nursing, they eventually found direction through ASL Studies — a shift that opened the door to deeper questions about language, identity, and culture. This led to a degree in Deaf Studies centered on multicultural interaction within the Deaf community, with minors in ASL, linguistics, education, family systems, and Black Deaf studies. Now in graduate school, they continue to build on that foundation by exploring the intersections of language rights, identity, and social justice, with a focus on creating more inclusive futures for Deaf communities — whether through policy, advocacy, academic work, or research.
They hold a deep connection to honoring Black Deaf history and sharing the stories as well as continue to advocate for accessible, affirming spaces where Deaf people of all backgroundss can fully express themselves. Beyond academic life, they find joy in reading and writing fiction — especially stories that reimagine the world through manga, novels, and fan-created narratives — always exploring new perspectives and voices.
