Shahrazad Z.

American Sign Language

New York City

• I've been cheerleading for 9 years and I was a competitive gymnast for 6 years prior to that.
• Along with ASL, I have a passion for mathematics and love working with numbers!
• I have touched 3 continents and hope to get to the remaining 4 within the next 10 years!

My high school was integrated with a Deaf School program that exposed me to American Sign Language at an early age. After 2 years of informal language acquisition and 6 years of formal linguistic training in sign language and interpreting, I graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science in American Sign Language to English Interpreting. Along with that degree, I acquired a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with a minor in Education, and 2 years later received a Master of Arts in Mathematics Education. Upon completion of my Bachelor in ASL Interpreting, I worked as a professional interpreter in many different settings -- including, but not limited to, educational, medical, community-based, and virtual -- for 5 years. Now I'm excited to take my passion for sign language and Deaf inclusivity, and share it with the next generation!