Sign Language Center

What Sign Language Center does

Sign Language Center (legal entity SLC OF NYC INC.) is a privately held, Deaf-owned American Sign Language education company founded in 2001 by Alan Roth and Brian Blais in New York City. Following Alan Roth's death in February 2023, co-founder Brian Blais continues to lead the organization, which retains its position as the only Deaf-owned ASL school in the nation. The company delivers a six-level ASL curriculum plus conversational classes through 6-week semesters meeting twice-hourly once per week, with class sizes of 10–20 students at $250 per semester, running 7 semesters annually across both in-person (NYC Midtown studio at 39 East 30th Street) and Zoom delivery formats.

The core technology stack is deliberately minimal: Zoom for virtual instruction, Hisawyer for scheduling and registration, and standard ICS/Google Calendar integration for event distribution. There is no proprietary platform, no app, and no AI/ML components — the product is human-instructor-driven by 20+ native Deaf ASL users. Adjacent revenue lines include individual tutoring ($70–$100/hour), corporate on-site workshops for emergency responders and businesses, specialty workshops (fingerspelling, nutrition, interpreting preparation), holiday immersion programs, overnight cultural trips to Gallaudet University and the American School for the Deaf, a 1,500 sq/ft studio space rental, the Creative Hands Gallery showcasing Deaf artists, DASL theatrical/professional interpreting services, and a branded merchandise storefront.

The business operates a hybrid go-to-market: direct-to-consumer self-serve enrollment for individual learners globally via Zoom and locally in NYC, contact-based enterprise sales for corporate workshops, and community-driven acquisition through social events, cultural trips, and word-of-mouth referrals. Customer segments include individual adult learners (beginner through advanced), families of Deaf individuals, aspiring interpreters, and corporate/government organizations. No external funding rounds, institutional investors, or subsidiaries are disclosed, and the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary in August 2026.

Name

Sign Language Center

Legal name

SLC OF NYC INC.

Website

https://signlanguagecenter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Online Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes (EDAMAFAD), In-Person Language Tutoring & Small-Group Classes (EDAMAFAE), Language & Cross-Cultural Training (BPACANAL)

Keywords

• American Sign Language classes
• ASL tutoring services
• Deaf culture training
• Corporate ASL workshops
• Deaf education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Semester ASL Classes: 6-week semester courses meeting once weekly for 2 hours each. Available at Levels 1-6 and conversational classes. Both in-person and Zoom formats offered.
2. Tutoring Services: Individual one-on-one instruction for students. Per person, per hour pricing. Discounted rate for current students.
3. Corporate Workshops: Deaf culture and language training provided at client business locations. Includes sensitivity training and ASL basics.
4. Specialty Workshops: Single-session workshops on specific topics including fingerspelling, nutrition, interpreting preparation, and Deaf culture/history.
5. Merchandise Store: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, tote bags, mugs, insulated bottles, and gift cards.
6. Events and Social Programs: Social events including happy hours, ASL karaoke, game nights, holiday parties, and cultural trips (Gallaudet University, American School for the Deaf).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Sign Language Center teaches American Sign Language through 6-week semester classes (Levels 1-6 plus conversational) delivered both in-person at its Midtown Manhattan studio and via Zoom, alongside individual tutoring, specialty workshops, corporate on-site training, holiday immersion programs, and cultural trips. All instruction is provided by native Deaf ASL instructors from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Product overview

Sign Language Center operates as a Deaf-owned educational services company offering a structured American Sign Language curriculum across multiple delivery formats. The core offerings consist of in-person and Zoom-based ASL classes spanning six proficiency levels (Levels 1-6) plus conversational classes, all delivered as 6-week semesters with 2-hour weekly sessions. The company provides supplementary services including individual tutoring, placement assessments, and specialized workshops (Finger Spelling, Deaf History, Deaf Culture, interpreting preparation). Additional revenue streams include corporate training programs, a 1500 sq/ft event space available for rental, an art gallery showcasing Deaf artists, branded merchandise, and educational travel experiences to institutions like Gallaudet University. The company also offers DASL (Directors of Artistic Sign Language) interpreting services for theatrical and professional settings. All instruction is delivered by native Deaf ASL users.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ASL Classes (In-Person) In-person American Sign Language instruction across 6 proficiency levels plus conversational classes. Classes meet once weekly for 2 hours over 6-week semesters with 10-20 students per class at the New York City location.
• ASL Classes (Zoom) Online American Sign Language instruction delivered via Zoom across 6 levels plus conversational classes, providing remote access to the same curriculum as in-person classes.
• Individual Tutoring One-on-one ASL instruction for students seeking personalized learning, makeup sessions for missed classes, or accelerated progress. Tutoring rates are $70/hour for current students and $100/hour for non-students.
• Corporate Workshops

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Start ASL: Online ASL school offering structured levels of American Sign Language instruction to self-directed learners. Closely comparable to SLC's core curriculum offering, though distributed fully online rather than hybrid in-person/Zoom.
• ASL University (Lifeprint): Bill Vicars' long-standing free ASL curriculum hosted at Gallaudet-adjacent Lifeprint. Directly comparable to SLC's structured Levels 1-6 instruction and represents the most prominent free alternative competing for the same learners.
• Sign It ASL: Video-based ASL course for beginners targeting family members of Deaf individuals and learners. Comparable learner audience (families, CODA-style learners) and similar beginner-level curriculum focus as SLC.

Broad incumbents

• Sorenson Communications: Large interpreting and communication services provider for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Comparable as a Deaf-services organization but operates broadly across video relay, interpreting, and product rather than as a teaching-focused language school.
• Communication Service for the Deaf (CSD): Nonprofit Deaf-led organization providing interpreting, advocacy, and education services. Comparable mission alignment and Deaf-ownership ethos to SLC, but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple Deaf-services verticals.
• Gallaudet University: The world's only Deaf liberal arts university and a destination for SLC's cultural immersion trips. Comparable as a Deaf-owned ASL and Deaf-culture institution, but functions as a degree-granting higher education provider rather than a consumer language school.

Others

• Preply: Global online tutoring marketplace for languages including ASL. Comparable as an alternative channel through which learners seek ASL tutors, but operates as a broad language platform rather than a Deaf-led specialized ASL school.

Emerging players

• SignAll: Computer-vision startup building automated sign language recognition and translation tools. Operates in the broader ASL/Deaf-tech space and represents the technology-enabled direction ASL learning could evolve toward.
• Lingvano: App-based sign language learning platform offering daily lessons in ASL and BSL. Comparable as an ASL learning destination for beginners, with a tech-forward delivery model that contrasts SLC's instructor-led classroom approach.
• Hand Talk: AI-powered sign language translation and learning app supporting ASL and BSL. Comparable as an ASL learning option for self-directed learners and a potential long-term competitive threat via automated instruction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/signlanguagecenter

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 Sign Language Center