Our Instructors

Kellie Gillespie is a Deafqueer bad ass, born with a mutant gene called Pendred’s Syndrome that made her Deaf from the get-go.  But don’t think for a second that stopped her from rocking out after being fitted with hearing aids at 18 months old.  

Growing up in the hearing world, Kellie struggled to connect with other Deaf folks. But that all changed when she hit up San Francisco and discovered the DeafQueer Resource Center on The BackPage. That’s when Kellie knew she had to learn ASL and immerse herself in the culture. And let’s just say, it was like coming out again – it was liberating, natural, and downright awesome.

Now a Visually Speaking Instructor and Boss in Seattle, Kellie is spreading the good vibes by teaching ASL to her squad and beyond. She’s a ball of energy, a go-getter, and always down for a good time. When communication gets tough, she’s got the patience and visual flair to make it happen. And when she’s not busy crushing it at work, you can find her biking through the city, taking in the badass PNW skies, or throwing together some epic events.

Now, Kellie’s hearing aids are long gone, and she’s making sure everyone knows that ASL is a language that anyone can learn.  So pick up your hands and join Kellie in the revolution of ASL.

Amanda Rose Smith is Deaf since she was a baby. She was introduced to American Sign Language when she was two years old. ASL became her primary language. She grew up with a bicultural (hearing/Deaf) identity. She graduated from University of Washington with Bachelor of Science in Oceanography.

She taught karate to hearing and deaf women and children for 7 years. During her last year at Seattle Central College and first year at the University of Washington, she tutored ASL to students with various cultural backgrounds, including a Deaf immigrant student and hearing ASL students.

She enjoys inspiring students to become familiar and comfortable with visual language and Deaf culture. She has plenty of patience and empathy and has the ability to adjust to a student’s needs and pace. Importantly, she wants to make sure the method of learning is fun and valuable for both the instructor and students.

She is a Seattle native. She is a lover of all living things. Her hobbies are outdoor activities (a very long list of activities!), knitting, doing sciences and arts, and exploring. She plans to go back to school for master’s and PhD in science.

Click here to schedule a private lesson with Amanda

Elizabeth was born in Seoul, South Korea and was adopted when she was nine months old by parents who live near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Elizabeth had a gradual loss of hearing until she became Deaf at age six. She was mainstreamed in public school with support services. Elizabeth is the mother of two girls, her older daughter is hard of hearing, and the other daughter is hearing. Elizabeth and her family moved to Washington in 2013. Elizabeth works for The DeafBlind Service center in Seattle. Elizabeth is contracted with WA state ODHH Family Mentor Services and ODHH TED Program. She has been working as an advocate for the Deaf and hard of hearing people in every job she has held. Her hobbies are doing arts and crafts, knitting, and playing with her fur babies. Elizabeth is very active in the Deaf and DeafBlind community and enjoys sharing experiences and joys with other families.

About me

I was born profoundly deaf. My world is completely visual. I have spent a lot of time in the US- my brother, who is also deaf, lives there and my wife is American. I have been asked to deliver speeches and lectures in the ASL community as often as I have visited the US. This has granted me the privilege of having a rich experience in the Deaf Language. You could say ASL is the language of my heart since it is my means of communication with all my closest loved ones and the vehicle for me to win the heart of the woman I love.

Me as a teacher

I was invited to work as translator in Sign Language. I have been trained at translation facilities using ASL in the US. I have learned how to teach through my nearly six years of translating from English text into a conceptual Sign Language that can be naturally understood by deaf. In this way, I understand my student’s desire to learn accurately. If you need a window into the deaf mind, I am the right person to give you the insight!

My lessons & teaching style

No matter the student’s background or origin, I aim help her / him to express herself / himself more like a Deaf person would- naturally and fluently. To this end, my classes will focus on Facial Expression, Use of Space, Hand Shapes, Deaf Psychology, Deaf Sentence Concept, Universal Sign Concept, Poetic Signs and of course, Deaf culture! I also encourage students to take time for self-improvement so I send customized lesson plans each week for them to practice at home. Lets have ASL lesson and really “talk”

click here to make an appointment with Anirban

Hello! My name is Ashlyn Nagel and I was born and raised in Seattle. I first became interested in American Sign Language (ASL) at the age of 15. I attended high school at Edmonds Woodway where there was a very large Deaf and Hard of Hearing program. Being exposed to ASL almost every day, I fell in love with it and started to learn.

I went on to complete ASL courses, volunteer for over four years at the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center and work with a range of children with varying communication needs. I have recently graduated with my Bachelor of Science in Speech and Hearing Sciences, with a focus on Communication Disorders. Currently, I am attending the University of Arizona online working towards my Masters in Special Education with a focus on Deaf and Hard of Hearing education. 

I am a native Deaf Pacific Northwesterner who moved back to the area a few years ago with my little family! I enjoy traveling, cooking, trying new eateries and caffeinated watering holes, spending time with family and friends. I love teaching ASL and meeting people from all walks of life. My teaching style is conversational and love to see people’s signing skills improve! I look forward to meeting you 😀

Click here to schedule a private lesson with Mei

Changer was born in Dyckman, NYC. Her family speaks Spanish and English language at home. Her parents moved to New York from Dominican Republic. Changer became profoundly Deaf when she was a few months old, confirmed by a audiology test at a doctor office in Manhattan, NYC. Changer attended mainstream school at PS 47 school for the Deaf in New York. She became fluent in American Sign Language since she was three years old. 

At age 12, they moved again to Rhode Island. Her baby sister was also born profoundly deaf, she couldn’t be any more happier to have another deaf sibling in the family. They attended Rhode Island School for the Deaf before transferred to mainstream school Warwick Public School. 

After high school, she graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington DC with Bachelor of Art Degree in Educational Drama. She loves teaching ASL beginner classes during her free times. 

In pursuit to find a new career, she moved to Seattle, Washington in year 2014. She has been working as ASL Interpreter Edu for 4 years at Tacoma Public School in Tacoma, WA. She is taking courses for ASL certification to teach ASL to high school/middle school students. Her hobbies are traveling, hiking, painting, dogs, walking, photography, and graphic designer Adobe Photoshop. She is involved and volunteers her time at many Deaf Community events in Seattle, Washington. She loves meeting people and is looking forward to teaching you!

I am Deaf-Blind. I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I am still living here after graduating with a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) from Gallaudet University in DC a year and a half ago. I am currently a part-time ASL tutor and own an ASL tutor business, caro-asltutoring.com Also, I had two bachelors in ASL Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Communication Studies from Gallaudet University. My favorite ASL sign is chill. I’m very chill.

A fun about me is that I.love to travel. I went to study abroad in Italy and France. I love to learn new language, culture, and history. I love art too!
You can contact Carolyn directly here
https://www.caro-asltutoring.com/

James first learned how to finger spell at the young age of 5; signs like “I love you”, “thank you” and “please” were used daily at home. James has over ten years of experience in the care-taking industry, including work with infants, children and elderly clients. James has completed courses in ASL at the collegiate level and as a student with Visually Speaking. In the last year, James has spent extensive time immersing themself in the Deaf and signing community and is thrilled to be sharing the love of the language with Visually Speaking.