PO Box 1980

I was deeply touched by Kathleen D.'s article in the September 1994 issue ("Cut Off from the World of People"). A few years ago, I was able to attend a Denver AA meeting that was ASL-interpreted. I knew a little American Sign Language, but still I felt like an outsider--what business did I have with the deaf community? Luckily, AA's language of the heart is easily transmitted, and the people I met at the interpreted meeting were patient and supportive. Learning to communicate through ASL is like learning any language; it takes time and humility. Although there are no local interpreted meetings and my ASL vocabulary is limited, I still practice by spelling out people's names or by signing the Steps and Traditions at my regular meetings. In doing so, I have met other sober AAs who know or are interested in learning ASL. As "bilingual" AAs, we can, as the Big Book suggests, "help when no one else can."