American Sign Language (ASL) is accepted by many high schools, colleges, and universities in fulfillment of modern and “foreign” language academic degree requirements across the United States. Over 40 states officially recognize ASL as a language. Research on ASL is regularly published in scholarly journals. Numerous conferences occur in areas of ASL, Deaf Cultural Studies and ASL Literature. All of these activities point to the need for a national organization of teachers of ASL and Deaf Studies.
The American Sign Language Teachers Association (ASLTA) fulfills this need. ASLTA is a national, professional organization of ASL and Deaf Studies teachers established in 1975. ASLTA was affiliated with the NAD from 1975 to 2004. ASLTA provides professional development, evaluation, certification, and networking for teachers of ASL and Deaf Studies and serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding the teaching of ASL and Deaf Studies.