Storyboard Agenda/YouTube Chapters

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Slide 1

Audio: Hello and welcome! My name is Rebecca, and I am from the Center for
Domestic Preparedness (a division of FEMA). Today, I am going to teach you how to
communicate four emergency signs in American Sign Language (American Sign
Language) and Mexican Sign Language (Mexican Sign Language).
Slide 2

Audio: During emergencies communication is a key factor to help people in crisis. Even
though there’s no universal sign language, we can look at the impacted zone,
understand its demographics, and efficiently communicate with them. In this video we
will cover a couple of words in American Sign Language and Mexican Sign language to
help first responders.

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Slide 3

Audio: The four emergency words or phrases we will be going over today are, where,
yes, no and help. We strategically identified these words/phrases as some of the most
critical to use in an emergency. For each word we will first go over the American Sign
Language sign first then we will go over the Mexican Sign Language sign.
Slide 4

Audio: The first word we will go over is “Where?” To make a where sign in American
Sign Language Hold your hand in front of you and "pivot" the hand side to side a couple
of times. The movement is in the wrist and elbow NOT in the finger joint.
Slide 5

Audio: Now, I’ll show you how to make a “where” sign with Mexican Sign Language.
The Spanish word for “where” is “Donde.” To make a “Donde” sign, first pinch your
thumb and middle finger together while pointing your index finger forward. Next, move
your other index finger on top of the pinch.
Slide 6
Audio: The second word we will go over is “yes.” To make a “yes” sign in American Sign
Language take a hand and make it into a fist and bob it back and forth, resembling a
head nodding.
Slide 7

Audio: The second word we will go over is “yes” in Mexican Sign Language. The word
“yes” translates to “Si” in Spanish. To make a Si or yes sign in Mexican Sign Language
first make put your hands in a fist like this. Next, slowly move your pinky up.
Slide 8

Audio: Our next word is “No”. To make the word “No” in American Sign Language bring
your ring and pinky finger down, keep your index and middle finger together and slowly
bring them down to touch your thumb finger, do down and upward motion.
Slide 9

To make the word “No” in Spanish, we can follow the same directions as before, as the
word “No” in Mexican Sign Language and American Sign Language are the same. Once
again, bring your ring and pinky finger down, keep your index and middle finger
together and slowly bring them down to touch your thumb finger, do down and
upward motion.
Slide 10

Our last word is “Help”, to make this word in American Sign Language open you right hand,
place it horizontally in front of you. Place your left hand on top of your right hand, make a
fist and stick up your thumb up, keeping your hands on top of each other.
Slide 11

Lastly, to make the word “Help” or “Ayuda” in Mexican Sign Language, we can follow the
same instructions as the sign words are the same. Open you right hand horizontally in front
of you. Place your left hand on top of your right hand, make a fist and stick up your thumb
up, keeping your hands on top of each other.
Slide 12

Agent: Today we have covered four words in American Sign Language and Mexican Sign
Language, Where, No, Yes, and Help. I hope you’ve had fun learning new vocabulary
and I wish they can serve you in the future. Thank you for watching!
These are the references for the clipboard material and sources for signs used in the
slides.

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