Equal Opportunity for ASL Users and Learners

  • Author:
    n/a
  • Send To:
    YouTube & WMG
  • Sponsored By:
    subscribers of my YouTube channel, allyballybabe
  • More Info at:
Are you the Author?
The videos found on my YouTube site, allyballybabe, are of various songs signed in American Sign Language. The YouTube is used for educational purposes all over the world, as well as a bridge between the Deaf and Hearing worlds. Because Deaf people cannot hear music, I sign the song in American Sign Language (ASL) so that they can understand the lyrics. I do not transform the message, I just use ASL to communicate the lyrics. I am not making any money off of this procedure. I believe that it is every person's right to experience the emotions and meaning of different songs, and what other way is there to do that, but convey the lyrics in a beautiful, lyrical language as ASL. In each video, I give copyright credit to each artist and blatantly state that I do not take credit for anything. I am merely allowing the Deaf community to have equal experiences as the rest of us. I believe it is important that we remember that everyone in America has equal opportunity, however, how can equal opportunity be given when there is no resource for Deaf people to go to? Signing these songs in ASL helps me in my educational career, as well as students in classes that are learning ASL. I am signing these songs to help the Deaf community become connected with the music world. Since they cannot hear, I use ASL to convey the meaning of the song so Deaf people can understand it. It is also used for my practice, as I am minoring in Interpreting and majoring in Deaf Education. Signing this song also allows sign language teachers over the nation to use the songs in their classes for educational purposes, and therefore introducing the song to students. Many of my viewers have expressed that they have never heard the song before, and they love it, so they went and bought the CD, or downloaded the song from iTunes. Signing videos in ASL can only help the music industry to allow the Deaf community to have an equal love of music (and lyrics) as the hearing community. I also write in each video that I am not claiming the content, and I'm not making any money off of it. Due to these educational uses and furthering the market for the music industry, I feel that my videos should not be removed. Many teachers and students have sent me messages begging me not to remove my videos, because they want to use them in their schools to introduce music to Deaf students, and/or they are Deaf themselves and have never found an appreciation of music, until they saw the lyrics signed in their own language and with meaning and emotion. Songs are much more than just music and lyrics, the emotion and meaning behind each song is critical in understanding, and with ASL being used as expressively conveying the lyrics and meaning, a wider audience is able to be reached, thus benefiting the artist and their music, not me.

It is my plea that I ask that my YouTube account not be deleted, as many of my viewers have found inspiration, and identity through my videos. It is also my plea that WMG (Warner Music Group) will allow me to sign these songs continuously, to benefit them and their artists, and allow people worldwide to experience the beauty and passion of American Sign Language.

1867 Signatures

  • Danyelle Lewinson
  • Johnny McClung
  • Craig Cohen
    • Comments
    • These videos help so many people experience music that otherwise they might not ever have the chance to.
  • Daniela Montoya
  • Ashleigh Dobbs
    • Comments
    • Please do NOT delete this account. It is serving a very valuable purpose.
  • julie
  • Robert E Lee
    • Comments
    • I share Ally's sentiments on this issue and believe equally as strongly that music should be accessable to all those who seek it. Interpretation is merely our way of helping the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community discover how wonderful music can be. This whole issue is not about money or profit; its about equal rights for a community that has been struggling to gain them for the past twenty years and beyond. It is the right of all people to have access to something as grand as music and it is the right of no one (including Warner Music Group) to deny them that right.
  • Kimberley Friend
    • Comments
    • As an ASL student I just want to say that Ally's videos are an amazing learning tool. As anyone who is learning a second language will tell you, exposure is so important. Ally's videos help to provide that . But you know, she's not only providing exposure to American Sign Language. She's providing exposure to music. She's giving Deaf and Hard of Hearing people a chance to experience music that they otherwise wouldn't. Furthermore. Ally is providing exposure to Artists. Because of her videos I've bought a few CD's and some songs from iTunes that I may never have even known about.
  • Jessica
    • Comments
    • Ally's videos have introduced me to songs, one of which I bought (Lucky by Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat). Her videos are educational and also serve to promote the songs she expresses.
  • sugarsmaxx
    • Comments
    • KEEP ASL SIGNING/SINGING ALIVE!
  • Justin Gumina
    • Comments
    • I watch these videos all the time! Not only are her signs educational, she puts so much energy into each performance. I love watching her work!
  • Alyssa Herbert
    • Comments
    • Ally has never claimed ownership of the music used in her videos, so why should her account be deleted?
  • Samantha
    • Comments
    • Lovvee you ALLY!
  • Samantha S
    • Comments
    • According to the fair use doctrine, if you aren't using it for monetary purposes and are using it for nonprofit, educational purposes, you have the right to use the media.
  • megan Hogan
    • Comments
    • Her videos allow me to understand music, allow to enjoy music and learn new signs. I am deaf. thank you.
  • MacKenzie Brown
    • Comments
    • I love her ASL videos! I am an ASL Studies Major and I have learned so much from Ally and her signed songs!
  • Glenda Ventura
    • Comments
    • Please do not take away her videos, she does no harm and makes no money out of this. She always gives credit to people who make the songs and she claims none of it as hers. Ally has been a blessing for us through her videos, do not take that away please.
  • Amber M
  • Robyn Gerris
  • Keath Graham
    • Comments
    • Please let the songs in sign language stay on YouTube. The signer is making no money off this but giving free publicity to the artists and I have bought many CDs based on songs I watched being signed on YouTube. Please, please, please let the music be signed!
  • casey
  • Erin E
    • Comments
    • I agree. It isn't like she is ripping the songs. She's not outting free downloads. I do believe some people sing on Youtube with the actual non-editied non-karaokeversion in the background. What's the diffenrence? It's just a different language. I can see where WMG might get defencive, Especially witht so many people cheating them of their money. But she is not. This is going too far. She's helping people, and helping WGM make money. What's wrong with that?
  • Amber Mayhew
  • Cynthia Graham
    • Comments
    • As someone who has enjoyed and appreciated the beauty of ASL my entire life, finding Ally was like finding a rose in a thornbush. I can't understand the logic of not letting her continue to do what she does and that is to bring beauty to the world. She's taking from no one. All she is doing is giving. Let her be!
  • whitney
  • behemoth
    • Comments
    • making the song available to the Deaf has no business being shut off. Fair Use if you ask me.
  • Lyndsey
  • Kevin Mendoza
  • Michele Caldwell
    • Comments
    • She provides a tremendous opportunity for American Sign Language learning. Please do not cancel her account, remove her ASL interpretation of songs, or mute the audio. Perhaps consider adding a link where the music can be legally purchased for download.
  • Kevin Loveland
    • Comments
    • PLEASE DON'T DELETE.
  • Daniel Ross
    • Comments
    • This is an amazing, talented signer. Her expressions of the music brings deaf awarness to many people. Serioiusly what is the harm.
  • Hannah
  • Brianne Cone
  • Kayla Hart
    • Comments
    • Stop Depriving ASL Users and Learners!!!
  • natalia
    • Comments
    • i support ally because she is not claiming anything and she only does theres videos because she wants Deaf people to know what we feel with the lyrics.
  • wendy moran
  • Derek Green
    • Comments
    • Ally has enriched the music industry by allowing the Deaf community to connect with the music. Ally has been an inspiration to many viewers, Deaf and hearing. Her videos are all created in the spirit of education and the proliferation of a beautiful language. Let her channel and videos remain! Sincerely, Derek Green (aka, therealgoober)
  • Laurie Braunsdorf
  • Jessica
    • Comments
    • American Sign Language is for everyone to enjoy, whether you are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or Hearing. American Sign Language is a language on its own, has its own culture, and its own way of expressing ideas. allyballybabe has an obvious passion for American Sign Language and should be recongized.
  • Aimee Raimer
  • Karen Ramirez
    • Comments
    • Please don't delete her account! If you would take the time and watch the videos you will understand why this petition was created.
  • Nicole
    • Comments
    • DONT TAKE HER OFFF!!!!!!!
  • originalpuppysgirl Lisa Day
    • Comments
    • Ally helps deaf people to "hear" music. Why would you take that away? There is no harm being done.
  • Alyssa Sheffield
    • Comments
    • Would you make a restaurant or other public place be silent and not have audio because they don't own the songs, either!
  • Jeff Lafata
    • Comments
    • Don't Delete!! These videos are a great bridge for the hearing and deaf world. Give us all the opportunity to enjoy music!
  • Emily Hardin
  • Jacob Morgan
  • Zachary Staveley
  • Jesse Ko
  • jenny