ASL Story Time

(Hudson Valley, NY)

2025

On Sunday, June 29th, Hudson Valley families gathered at Play Haven in Kingston, NY for an afternoon of play, connection, storytelling, and lunch. Children enjoyed the play space while adults chatted, and afterward Cathi Conticello and Gail Mitchell, two Deaf mentors from the Mill Neck Manor School for the Deaf’s Shared Reading Project, invited families to join them for ASL story time. Cathi and Gail did an animated reading of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? using just ASL. 

Story time was followed by pizza, drinks, and healthy snacks as well as connections between parents and the storytellers. Cathi and Gail were available for questions and discussion, and children resumed playing once lunch was over.

Each family received a copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? along with a packet of ASL signs to help caregivers sign the story at home.

The event was organized by Kit Fraser, Andréa Grieco, Caroline Rowland, and Gillian Barnard and was sponsored by the New York State Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program (NY EDHI) and Hands and Voices of New York.