Meet Debbie 

With her quick hand salute-like sign for Hello, a huge welcoming smile and her lively enthusiasm,
Debbie can stir up a crowd!  When you have her teach you ASL signs, one can't help get into the action, sign along,
and burst into full laughter with her jokes when hand signs get mixed up.
 

As a twenty-something hearing person, Debbie Lawrence was attracted to the rich and separate world of the Deaf when a missionary came to her home church in Philadelphia and presented on Deaf Missions. It was at the end of the missionary’s presentation that she purchased her first sign language book, “Talk to the Deaf,” that captivated her imagination. She began learning sign language and taught her first pre-verbal toddlers songs and a Bible verse at her church’s Vacation Bible School (VBS). In her class final presentation they received a standing ovation for an outstanding performance of little hands fluttering in sign language. Not long after that initial experience of teaching sign language, "I received a divine calling from God to minister to deaf people," although she had never known anyone who was deaf.

Seven years later, she was overtaken with viral encephalitis and became temporarily blind and deaf. She says "it was a truly a miracle of God that not only was my hearing restored, but my sight, balance and memory as well." Her own personal experience of deafness deepened her calling. Upon being fully recovered she pursued some series of preparatory events from an in-home Sign Language class conducted by a pastor and his wife. In 1986, Debbie married a man who was hard of hearing and who later, as the result of over radiation for a glioma brainstem tumor, became severe to profound late deafened. Sign language became her family’s mode of communication. During her husband’s decline in health they raised three children in their home who were birthed from their hearts. ASL became part of the curriculum for their junior high home-schooled student. The other two hearing children learned ASL at 10 and 24 months. Even their family’s collie understood and responded to ASL.

After the demise of her husband she began volunteering at Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (PSD) in the classrooms, Deaf Adult Literacy program to the After school bible club for Deaf students. Continuing following the call of God, she moved to the Twin Cities to pursue her ASL studies at North Central University and Health care Interpreting at The College of St Catherine’s. Now, this energetic, hearing woman has earned a B.A. degree in Deaf Culture Studies and her M.A. in Deaf Culture Ministry along with her Career Counselor certification.

Debbie makes a difference and continually touches the lives of all of her students from babies to baby boomers. Her lively way of connecting with her students caused one of her youngest student, a 22 month old infant with Down Syndrome to speak her first word instead of signing thereby, leaving the whole class in utter amazement and her daddy in big tears.  Her oldest student an 83 year old great grandmother with arthritic hands left her newly deafened nine years old great grandson stunned as they began conversing in Signs in his new language. These and many other significant events occurs in her beginner level ASL three tier 5- week classes where she shares her knowledge with hearing Parents of deaf and hard of hearing children, Early Childcare Providers, Medical Care Professionals, K-12 students, Students with Developmental Disabilities and Autism and adults experiencing sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Minnesota Center for Professional Development MCPD Content Expert Trainer, Debbie Lawrence, has trained thousands of individuals, and her students consistently give her high praise. "Her heart is in ASL," said one enthusiastic participant after a class with Debbie. 

Before arriving to the Twin Cities, Debbie Lawrence was an award recipient from her hometown, Philadelphia, for "Year of the Woman". She was recognized "for her contribution to the progress of women. Debbie lives her life as an example and motivates others by welcoming challenge and inspiring change." Debbie’s other accomplishments include being a recipient of the 2006 Small Business of the year Award presented to her by Mayor Rybak, featured on KARE 11 NEWS, her appointment as ASL certified Trainer for The Program for Infant Toddler Caregivers granted by the MN Child Care Resources & Referral Network (MNCCRRN) and a certified Baby Signing Time Instructor. Additionally she served as a MNSCU adjunct faculty member for the St. Paul College where she developed and taught the inaugural course for students pursuing their careers in Early Childhood Development and American Sign Language (ASL).  She was also invited to speak at the MENSA conference, an organization with members whose IQ is in the top 2% of the population. Currently, she instructs Fall and Spring 15-week ASL classes for WEST Homeschool District.

Debbie Lawrence has been presenting as an American Sign Language (ASL) training instructor for professional care providers, childcare educators, librarians, nannies, parents, and family caregivers. She is a frequent conference presenter in community centers, daycare centers and at educational workshops such as the Early Childhood Development and Brain Development Conferences. She is an active trainer for Think Small and conducts on-site Tailored training for Early Childhood facilities and Customized training for staff professional development.

With an interest in cross-cultural studies of Deaf communities, Debbie has traveled extensively to Guatemala, Denmark, England, Kenya, Zambia and Haiti. Since her return from visiting these countries, she has produced TV  documentary materials on Kenya Sign Language and Kenya Deaf Culture. With her clients who have various   diagnoses of Developmental  Disabilities, she produced a TV Game Show with them, entitled, The Big Z Sign Language Game! It aired on North Metro Cable 15 in Blaine, MN.

Overall, it is Debbie Lawrence’s desire to continue making a difference and touch lives
by providing two-way communication and Deaf Culture Awareness
through the training of American Sign Language for all ages.

“Come On, Put Your Hands Up and Sign with Me!”

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Credentials - Education & Experience
Debbie Lawrence's Great Talent Backed by Extensive Education

Often in the media, active in the deaf community, and teaching ASL in multiple outlets,
Debbie Lawrence is highly qualified to teach people of all ages ASL and Deaf Culture.

Founder/CEO of Easy Signing, LLC
An interactive and educational resource that provides
“American Sign Language Training for All Ages.  

Noted Conference speaker and international seminar leader
MNSCU Adjunct Professor
NDC Small Business of the Year
MENSA Conference Presenter
Certified SigningTime Instructor
Certified Content Expert Trainer – MN Center Professional Development
KARE 11 NEWS and "The Big 'Z' Sign Language Game!" 
National and International Deaf Advocate
 

Hennepin Technical College Customized ASL Trainer
St. David’s Family Development Center
The Whole Learning School (TWLS)
MN Child Care Resource & Referral Network
Certified ASL Trainer – “The Program for Infant Toddler Caregivers”
Saint Paul College, Early Childhood Education /Special Settings
MN Certified Inclusion Consultant
North Central University, BA, Deaf Cultural Studies
RMU Theological Institute, MA Ministry
ASL trainer for several organizations such as Think Small