Welcome to the Library. Libraries are known for their silence but imagine what it would be like if your whole world was silent? Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing often have limited access to the sounds around them. Their ability to communicate is different because they are not able to hear what speech sounds like. However, they learn to communicate through other ways. They learn to signal themselves by using light signals and vibrations. They communicate through American Sign Language (ASL). The Deaf community is very close knit. As you read Chapter 11, notice about some of the accommodations and ways that individuals with hearing impairments learn and the people who help support them.