Empowering Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students: An AI-Powered ASL Reading App for Enhanced Literacy

Abstract: This comprehensive article explores the unique challenges faced by Deaf and hard of hearing students in the context of reading education. It introduces a groundbreaking solution in the form of an AI-powered American Sign Language (ASL) reading app. We delve into the distinctive needs of these students, discussing how advanced technology and artificial intelligence can revolutionize the reading process. The app not only tracks and guides reading practice for ASL-based students but also translates English text to ASL in real-time, using comic book style balloon transcriptions to enhance comprehension. The article emphasizes the critical role of AI in making reading more accessible and empowering Deaf students in their literacy journey.

1. Introduction: The education of Deaf and hard of hearing students presents unique challenges in literacy development, particularly with respect to reading. This article explores the importance of addressing these challenges and introduces an innovative ASL reading app powered by artificial intelligence.
2. Challenges in Teaching Reading to Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students:

2.1. Language Barriers: Deaf students primarily rely on American Sign Language (ASL) for communication, which requires effective translation of written English into ASL to facilitate reading comprehension.