American Society for Deaf Children

Name

American Society for Deaf Children

Legal name

American Society for Deaf Children

Website

https://deafchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Family Support Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sign Language Learning Programs (ASL/BSL, etc.) (EDAMAFAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Asynchronous Tutoring (Q&A, Essay Review, Homework Help) Platforms (EDANAGAC)

Keywords

• ASL education services
• Deaf family support
• Sign language tutoring
• Deaf children advocacy
• Deaf education resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual family memberships at $35/year (with periodic special pricing such as $29 Leap Day promotions) provide recurring revenue and gate access to member benefits including free SignOn sessions and discounted event registration.
2. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, ASDC relies on charitable donations. Fundraising campaigns include National Deaf Awareness Month round-ups at partner locations (e.g., Chuck E. Cheese donating 20% of sales on specified days), Giving Tuesday, and merchandise sales.
3. Event Registration Fees: Revenue from paid attendance at annual family conferences, the Literacy Conference, ASL weekends, and online workshops/webinars. Conference pricing is tiered: $300–$400 per person for members vs. $250 for non-members, with early-bird discounts available.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sales of branded merchandise (Spirit Shirts, camping shirts, seasonal apparel) through the ASDC shop and Bonfire storefront, often tied to fundraising campaigns.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ASDC is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports families of deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children through American Sign Language (ASL) education, virtual mentoring programs (SignOn with ASDC), peer socialization for DHH youth (Friends Like Me), online ASL classes, an ASL Stories Directory, conferences, ASL weekends, and advocacy resources. It earns revenue through annual family memberships ($35/year), donations, event registration fees, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) operates a unified platform of educational resources and programs centered on American Sign Language (ASL) learning and deaf community support. The core offerings consist of SignOn with ASDC (a live virtual immersion platform pairing families with Deaf adult mentors for one-on-one ASL practice), Friends Like Me (peer connection sessions for DHH children), and Online ASL Classes (monthly structured classes and webinars). Supporting these are the ASL Stories Directory (hundreds of ASL-retold children's book videos), the ASL Fingerspelling App, The Endeavor magazine, and free downloadable ASL Alphabet and Numbers posters. ASDC extends its reach through in-person events including the Annual Family Conference, ASL Weekends, and the Literacy Conference. The organization also provides Navigating the IEP Process resources, Mental Health Resources, a Summer Camps Directory, and the Maryland Early Connections early intervention program. A membership program ($35/year) unlocks free SignOn sessions and member-only pricing. Merchandise is sold through the ASDC Shop to support programming.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SignOn with ASDC A virtual one-on-one ASL immersion program that pairs families of deaf/hard-of-hearing children with Deaf adult mentors for live ASL practice via video sessions, available 7 days a week with replay recordings. Free for ASDC members.
• Friends Like Me An online program connecting deaf/hard-of-hearing children with 2-3 same-age DHH peers for weekly 30-minute group sessions led by a trained DHH adult mentor, supporting social skill-building, conversation, and games in a moderated environment.
• Online ASL Classes Monthly ASL classes and webinars taught by Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing instructors, covering vocabulary, conversation skills, fingerspelling, and language acquisition for beginner through advanced learners.
• ASL Stories Directory An online directory providing instant access to hundreds of ASL retellings of children's books and stories for all ages, accessible for free via the ASDC website.
• ASL Fingerspelling App An award-winning mobile/web app supporting ASL fingerspelling learning through interactive practice and reinforcement.
• ASDC Annual Family Conference A fully immersive, interpreter-supported annual event for families with deaf/hard-of-hearing children featuring educational presentations, family activities, children's programming, and Deaf role model engagement.
• Literacy Conference: Creating Connections with Language An annual literacy conference co-hosted with CAID, South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, and the South Carolina Department of Education, bringing together educators, parents, and advocates for DHH literacy and language development.
• ASL Weekends Intensive in-person weekend ASL learning events held at various U.S. locations, offering personalized instruction and immersive practice for all levels (teens 16+ welcome).
• ASDC Membership Program Annual family membership program ($35/year) providing access to free SignOn sessions (5 sessions, $125 value), member-only pricing on events and classes, resources, and community support.
• ASDC Merchandise Shop Online shop selling ASDC-branded merchandise including Spirit Shirts, seasonal apparel, and camping shirts through the ASDC website and Bonfire storefront, with proceeds supporting ASDC programming.
• Maryland Early Connections An early intervention program serving families with deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Maryland, providing connection to resources and support from birth.
• The Endeavor Magazine ASDC's periodic magazine publication featuring stories of empowerment, innovation, and inclusivity for the deaf community, available in special and standard editions.
• ASL Spanish (ASL en Español) Course A 4-week ASL Spanish (ASL en Español) course taught by instructor Patti Sanchez, designed for Spanish-speaking families with deaf/hard-of-hearing children; $25 per person covers all four classes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Five free 30-minute SignOn sessions (a $125 value) provided to each ASDC member family upon joining
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and premier national partner.

• Chuck E. CheesecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 August 2024Chuck E. Cheese expanded its partnership with ASDC in August 2024, introducing new ASL Sign-Along videos on its YouTube channel and in-store media platform, employee training on deaf culture and ASL, and national fundraising events during National Deaf Awareness Month in September. The company donates 20% of sales at participating locations on September 29 when customers mention ASDC.
• PBS KidsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 April 2024ASDC publicly supported PBS Kids' initiative to add ASL interpreters to popular children's programming. Starting April 18, six series including Arthur, Alma's Way, and Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood began featuring ASL interpretation.
• Gallaudet UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 March 2024ASDC connected with Gallaudet University representatives at the 2024 EDHI Annual Conference in Denver, CO, strengthening ties between the organizations in shared advocacy for deaf education.
• VringminorOthers · 13 November 2023Vring is one of ASDC's newest organizational members. As an organizational member, Vring joins the ASDC community and receives access to resources and networking opportunities.
• ZenBusinessminorOthers · 13 November 2023ZenBusiness is one of ASDC's newest organizational members. As an organizational member, ZenBusiness joins the ASDC community and receives access to resources and networking opportunities.
• Convention of American Instructors of the Deaf (CAID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023CAID co-hosted the ASDC Literacy Conference (October 2023) with ASDC, South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, and South Carolina Department of Education. The conference focused on literacy and language development for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and DeafBlind children.
• South Carolina School for the Deaf and BlindcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023Co-hosted the ASDC Literacy Conference (October 2023) alongside ASDC, CAID, and the South Carolina Department of Education, focusing on progressive literacy and language development for DHH/DeafBlind children.
• South Carolina Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2023Co-hosted the ASDC Literacy Conference (October 2023) alongside ASDC, CAID, and South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind, targeting educators, professionals, parents, and advocates.
• ReelAbilities Film Festival: New YorkminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 27 April 2023ASDC partnered with the ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York for its 15th anniversary (April 27 – May 3, 2023), promoting disability through film. ASDC promoted the festival on its website and offered a 20% discount code (rffasdc) to its community for festival tickets and passes.
• Delta Zetapremier national partnerGTM or Marketing PartnerDelta Zeta sorority is ASDC's Premier National Partner. Delta Zeta members support ASDC through fundraising, awareness campaigns, and volunteer efforts, aligning the sorority's philanthropy with ASDC's mission to support deaf children and their families.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hands & Voices: Parent-driven, non-biased nonprofit supporting families of DHH children with information, resources, and parent-to-parent connections. Overlaps directly with ASDC's parent-support and IEP navigation offerings and competes for the same family audience.
• National Cued Speech Association: Promotes the use of Cued Speech as a communication tool for DHH children and families. Comparable parent-education nonprofit targeting families of DHH children with modality-specific advocacy and training, competing for the same parent-decision maker audience.
• Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID): National membership organization certifying ASL interpreters and serving professionals in the deaf community. Comparable as a national 501(c)(3) membership association that grows via professional community engagement and certification-adjacent education.
• Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA): National nonprofit representing people with hearing loss, providing advocacy, education, and support programs including conventions and webinars. Comparable consumer-membership nonprofit serving an overlapping audience with community-led growth and education programming.
• National Association of the Deaf (NAD): U.S. civil rights organization for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community, advocating for ASL access and deaf rights. Highly comparable to ASDC as a national 501(c)(3) serving the same population with overlapping mission on advocacy and community support.
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell): National nonprofit focused on hearing loss, listening and spoken language, and deaf education resources for children. Directly comparable to ASDC in serving families of DHH children and providing parent/caregiver education, though more oral-focused vs. ASDC's ASL immersion orientation.

Broad incumbents

• Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD): Large national nonprofit providing a broad range of services to the deaf community — interpreting, advocacy, employment, and technology. A broader incumbent with overlapping mission and language-access advocacy, but a much wider service portfolio than ASDC.
• Gallaudet University: The premier U.S. institution of higher education for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and a hub for deaf education research and advocacy. A broader incumbent in the same category; an ASDC strategic partner and a much larger credential-providing entity in the deaf ecosystem.

Others

• Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP): Federally funded program providing accessible educational media (described video, captioned media) for deaf and blind students. Adjacent provider of complementary learning resources for DHH youth that doesn't directly compete with ASDC's tutoring and community programs.

Regional players

• American School for the Deaf: The oldest existing deaf school in the U.S., providing K-12 education for DHH students in a residential setting. Comparable in serving the DHH children's education market, but operates regionally as a bricks-and-mortar school versus ASDC's national virtual model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/AmericanSocietyforDeafChildrenASDC/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/ASDCdeafchildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/americansocietyfordeafchildren
• Instagraminstagram.com/asdcdeafchildren
• TikToktiktok.com/@deafchildren

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Society for Deaf Children