“Hand Talk,” also known as Native American Sign Language, played a key role in shaping today’s American Sign Language (ASL), which is now widely used in the U.S. and Canada. Hand Talk was once common across many Indigenous nations. It was central to trade, ceremonies, storytelling, and daily life, understood by both Deaf and hearing people without the need for an interpreter. Historical records trace it back to at least the 1500s, with evidence in rock carvings suggesting it may be even older. The most widespread form was Plains Indian Sign Language (PISL), used for communication between tribes who spoke different spoken languages. But in the 19th and 20th centuries, Native children were forced into U.S. boarding schools, where they were taught ASL and punished for using Hand Talk. Many Indigenous people describe this as “language genocide.” Today, only a small number of people still know Plains Indian Sign Language, though many ASL signs can be traced back to it. Deaf Native Americans are now working to preserve their culture by blending ASL with traditional Hand Talk and passing it on to younger generations. Their goal is to keep the language alive and ensure people recognize that ASL was not the first sign language in North America - Hand Talk was.

Amazon France now offers customer service in French Sign Language (LSF), giving Deaf and Hard of Hearing customers direct access through video calls with a live interpreter. Customers can connect via the “Accessibility Help” or “Contact Us” pages on Amazon’s website, using any phone, computer, or tablet with a camera - no special software required. The service is currently available from 6:00 AM to midnight, seven days a week, and will soon expand to cover all customer service hours. By October 2025, it will also include French Cued Speech (Langage Parlé Complété, LPC). Amazon says this is the first time its customer support is directly accessible in sign language. The company has already provided workplace video interpreting for employees, and this initiative extends that accessibility to customers. Over time, Amazon may expand the program to other European countries with their own national sign languages.