Deaf people enjoy vacations the same as everyone else. However, they have justified concerns when staying at hotels. They need wake-up calls, visual smoke detectors, doorbells, and phones. Thanks to the ADA, the federal legislation that ensures hotels accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing patrons, the stress related to vacations is seriously reduced. According to the ADA, the hotel shall provide the following accommodations for these patrons:

• Visual alarm clock

• Visual smoke alarm

• Telephone signalers

• TTYs

• Closed-caption decoders

• Doorbell notification

Thanks to these mandates, the deaf and hard of hearing no longer need to hand-carry their own visual signaling devices onto airplanes when they are traveling. Given the current status of baggage screening at airports, the ability of the deaf to travel lightly relieves a lot of stress and is very welcome.

As discussed in Chapter 1, the need to provide services for the deaf and hard of hearing increases yearly. If your line of work is in hotel, travel, or tourism, your ability to use sign language will make everyone's travel experience pleasurable. To start you off in this area of signed vocabulary, here are five commonly used signs.

VACATION, HOLIDAY: Place the thumbs of the “open five” hands at your armpits then wiggle your fingers.

TICKETS: Grasp the left “flat” hand with the bent “V” hand, imitating punching a ticket.

VISIT, TRAVEL: The “V” hands are rotated alternately, imitating people traveling. Rotating the “V” handshape away from you indicates that you are traveling. Rotating the “V” handshape toward you indicates people visiting you.

In the event that you are talking about animal travel, all you need to do is make a small change; form a bent “V” and move forward in a zigzag fashion. With one hand, you could demonstrate a bunny hopping; with both hands, you could demonstrate a leopard stalking.

Vacation always means packing, whether it's the car or the luggage. You know how to sign “vacation,” now you need to know how to sign “luggage.” The magic word is mime-sign. To sign “luggage,” imitate lifting the handle of the luggage. However, with the new style of “luggage,” you would imitate pulling a piece of luggage that has wheels.

ROAD: Place both “flat” hands palms facing, move both hands forward.

Many different variations can be applied in the sign for “road.” If the road is narrow or wide, bring your hands closer or farther apart. When the road or path is a winding way, simply demonstrate this by moving your hands in a wavy fashion. By using your “R” or “W” hands in the same fashion, the sign for road can be initialized. Knowing this little piece of information might save someone from becoming lost trying to find a street, way, avenue, or road. You have the ability to demonstrate the difference along with the newfound ability to give directions.

Here is a fun sign that closes your journey around the world.

HELICOPTER: Form the three-finger classifier. Place an “open five” hand on the tip of your thumb and shake your right hand demonstrating the movement of the blades of the helicopter.

Bon Voyage!