Client
Scope of Works
Illustration
Digital design
Educational activities
My Role
Solo Illustrator
The Solar System Collection is a complete set of educational resources designed for Deaf K-6 grade students and homeschoolers. It utilizes visual learning methods to present astronomy concepts clearly in their own native languages. Materials are available in both written English and Spanish, as well as ASL fingerspelling, making them accessible to students in their native languages.
Problems
Many open-source and paid educational materials available online do not provide accessible visual learning resources in American Sign Language (ASL), paired with written English and/or Spanish. This gap is especially evident in subject-specific content, such as solar system education, where both K-6 grade and homeschool students may need both fingerspelled letter handshapes and concept-based signs to fully understand key terms and ideas. The lack of ASL-inclusive instructional materials creates barriers for Deaf, Hard-of-Hearing, and KODA learners and limits equitable access to educational content. This challenge is not limited to astronomy but extends across many academic subjects and topic areas, highlighting the broader need for inclusive, visually accessible learning resources in ASL.
Solutions
• Develop a clearer visual language using spacious layouts.
• Craft a strong typographic hierarchy and contrast with clean and sans-serif typefaces, a chalk-style font, and a letter-handshape font, reinforcing clarity and readability.
• Balance overall content, multiple languages written, and elements
• The crayon-drawing texture is to evoke the feeling of being drawn by a child.
• Build individual 15 planets and name them by using letter-handshape font to convey their identity.
• Build a cohesive grid system to unify the format and ensure consistency across all spreads in various format sizes.
• Create individual and sheet stickers as a material supporting educational learning
• Create educational worksheets to provide Deaf/Hearing homeschoolers, Deaf teachers, and other professionals with access to sources in both English, ASL, and Spanish.
Outcomes
Many have found them beneficial, especially those aiming to enhance their ASL fluency, fingerspelling recognition, and letter skills. Most teachers have noticed improvements in fingerspelling recognition, letter recognition, and writing skills. In addition to these learning gains, they have noticed that children are engaging with their peers and learning these materials along the way, and as a result, this has helped improve their social skills. Deaf teachers, speech-language pathologists, and other professionals who work with Deaf/Hard of Hearing/KODA and DeafDisabled children are encouraged to utilize these materials to effectively engage with them.
Photo Credit: Estefani Arevalo
