The Magic KingdomDisney World in Florida tries to be as deaf-friendly as possible so it has created its own sign language words for most things Disney.
The Orlando Sentinel reports:
Throughout Walt Disney World, stage shows, parades and a few of the other attractions offer American Sign Language Interpretation services, at least once a week, for deaf and hearing-impaired visitors. Everything at Disney has a name, and the company has never been shy about inventing its own words, which is why it has invented hundreds of Disney-specific word signs.
"To create that consistency from interpreted show to interpreted show, and also from interpreter to interpreter, there is that need to create signs that are unique to a character or unique to a location," said Jones, operations manager for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts' services for guests with disabilities.
Like any unfamiliar word that's spoken and heard for the first time, a new signed word might be gibberish the first time someone encounters it. But by the second or third use, people usually figure out its meaning, Jones said. The new signs -- developed with the help of consultants, notably ASL Services in Kissimmee -- are always used in context and are often spelled out, too, the first time they're used. And Disney has tried to make most of them obvious-looking.
The Sentinel's Web site has a cool video component that shows the signs for major Disney attractions and characters.
