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Handy Conversations

Beyond Verbal Communication

American Sign Language
Courses

Prenatal Signing

Signing with Babies & Young Children

Introduction to ASL

General Interest Courses

Deepen Your Connection Through Sign

Begin dissolving communication barriers and start signing right away with your family, friends, clients, and people in your community.

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Our goal is to support individuals who may be experiencing hearing loss, struggling with verbal communication, or who are neurodivergent. Every step you take in your signing journey is a meaningful move toward greater accessibility and inclusion.

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At Handy Conversations, our signature courses are designed for those seeking a professional, community‑focused approach to early language development.

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All of our courses can be customized to support families, educators, healthcare providers, and teams within companies or organizations.

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For more information about our one‑on‑one or group sessions—or to help your team continue growing their ASL skills-reach out anytime. We’ll walk you through the course options and share details about our individual and group rates.

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Please note: spaces are limited for each session, so early registration is recommended.  “Solo Bookings” allow individuals to reserve a class time slot; however, these sessions are not private, and other participants may book and attend the same time slot. If you prefer a fully private session, please contact asl.handy.convos@hotmail.com to discuss availability and reserve a dedicated time.

Professional ASL Instruction

Discover the Course that Works for You

Let's Begin with Some
"Handy Conversations"

Want to bridge communication gaps and feel more connected?  We offer welcoming, accessible courses for learners of all backgrounds and abilities. Get in touch to sign up or find out which class is right for you.

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Explore Prenatal Signing, Signing with Babies, Signing with Young Children, Introduction to ASL, or our General Interest Courses—each designed to support you wherever you are in your learning journey.

Prenatal Sign Courses

This course is tailored for people who are expecting and who have minimal to no experience with sign language. You will learn the basic fundamental signs to build a visual language foundation, fostering an immediate bond and begin early communication from birth.

Please note that spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended—register now to secure your place!

  • Bonding Early: Prepare to build a shared connection with your baby from day one. 
  • Reducing Stress: Ease daily frustrations by understanding your baby’s needs through visual cues.
  •  Feeling Prepared: Feel confident understanding and communicating with your child long before their first spoken words.​

Signing with Babies
 

This comprehensive course is thoughtfully designed for new parents, parents of young children, guardians, and childcare specialists.

 

Signing with Babies offers essential tools to support early communication, strengthen bonding, and encourage language development from infancy through toddlerhood and beyond.

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We warmly welcome families with neurodivergent children, language delays, or hearing loss.

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Professional educators and childcare providers are also invited to join us. If you have specific learning goals or particular topics you’d like covered during your session, please let us know — we’re happy to tailor the experience to your needs.

  • Interactive Play: Develop signing skills through movement and visual engagement.​
  • Expanding Everyday Essential Vocbulary: Signs for daily routines, food, and family.
  • Building Foundations: Strengthening emotional closeness through early insight into your babys needs.​

Our Fall Special for "Signing with Babies" is now available~courses booked for the  September 29th and October 27th, 2026 sessions receive a 10% discount.

Please note that spaces are limited, so early registration is recommended.
 

Signing with Young Children

 

Signing with Young Children is ideal for young learners aged 2 and older,  who may be experiencing communication delays, hearing differences, or neurodivergent needs, and for families who want to strengthen early language development through visual communication.

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Through age‑appropriate signing strategies, this session helps children express their needs, emotions, and ideas with greater confidence. Adults learn practical tools they can use at home, in childcare settings, or in the classroom to encourage clearer communication and reduce frustration.

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This course builds on the foundation of Signing with Babies, offering a more structured, interactive experience tailored to older toddlers and young children who are ready to expand their signing vocabulary and communication skills.

  • Equip your child with the tools to express big feelings and bright ideas, even when spoken words are challenging.

  • Help them to build a strong foundation for lifelong confidence and communication skills. 

Introduction to ASL 

This 1 day, 3-hour workshop  is designed  for adults with no prior ASL knowledge. It establishes the groundwork for visual communication by teaching essential grammar, syntax while building a strong core beginner vocabulary.


The Introduction to ASL Workshop is available for booking as a private one-on-one session or as a collaborative group experience.

Introduction to ASL & General Interest Courses

Explore ASL classes designed for anyone curious about signing, from complete beginners to those looking to build on the basics.

Contact us for more information or to register for any of our courses.

General Interest 1 (GIC 1)

To maintain your momentum following the  Introduction to ASL Workshop, we offer ongoing  General Interest Courses.


This course serves as a natural progression to build on  your foundational knowledge and expand on your signing development.


To ensure a collaborative learing environmoment, these classes are conducted in a group format.


The schedule for these classes will be set and shared with  enrolled students once the minimum registration threshold is met.

General Interest 2 (GIC 2)

The GIC2 course is intended for students who have successfully passed GIC1, and are seeking to advance their ASL proficiency.

 

This phase allows participants to sharpen their expression and comprehension through engaging instruction and peer-to-peer practice.


As with our other General Interest 1 course, these classes also requie a minimum number of students to proceed in a group  setting.

 

Enrolled students will be informed of the scheduled date once the minimum registration has been met.

Meet Your Instructor

Laurie Graham is a Hard of Hearing certified CHS SN ASL Instructor with more than 30 years experience in both the Educational and the ASL sectors. Her teaching is shaped by deep community experiences, and a passion for accessible communication.
 
Her background includes Freelance, and Educational Interpreting, 15 years as a Deafblind Intervenor and has provided Intervention support within a Deafblind Literacy Program.
 
She served as the Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Ottawa Carleton District School Boards General Interest ASL Courses, her Introduction to ASL Workshops, the Baby Sign and the ASL Summer Camp for Children at the Ottawa Deaf Center.

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  • Certified ASL Instructor: Over 30 years of professional experience across diverse signing and instructional environments. 
  • Inclusive Approach: Skilled in supporting complete beginners and neurodivergent learners with calm, patient, and encouraging guidance. 
  • Practical Focus: We emphasize real‑world, everyday signs you can begin using at home right away. 
  • Community‑Driven: Dedicated to bridging communication gaps and removing barriers through language, connection, and understanding.
Laurie Graham, ASL Specialist
Student Success Stories from our General Interest ASL Programs - Local School Board Sessions
Has our curriculum impacted your life?

"I need sign language courses complete up to level 3 for work, and I feel that this class has allowed me to communicate effectively with clients at my work, and I've only completed level 1. Wow!" 

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" I enjoyed learning a new language and it furthers my career as a DSW."

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"Very interactive. Instructor made learning fun and stress-free."

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"Yes, this course has. I've learned many new signs and the proper way to use them."

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"Good refresher of basic ASL . It was enjoyable."

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"Being a Hard of Hearing person for all my life, I was able to learn how Deaf can socialize. All of this course was helpful."

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"Her enthusiasm helped make the class both fun and educational."

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"It  helped me to better communicate with the indiviuals that I work with which has resulted in me better supporting them." 

 

" Greatly more comfortable with sentence structure and vocab."

 

"The professor very outgoing & good teaching the signs."

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"Absolutely, I have learned so much! The review that we did at the beginning of every week was beneficial."

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" I enjoyed this course so much. I learne a lot."

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Current Course & Workshop Schedule

Select “Learn More & Book Now” for a full calendar of dates, times, and registration fees.
Note: all fees include HST

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