Start with your non-dominant hand flat in front of you, palm facing up. Form a 'thumbs up' shape (an 'A' handshape with the thumb extended) with your dominant hand and place it resting on top of your flat palm. Finally, lift both hands upwards together as a single unit.
To ask for assistance, sign 'assist' but move the sign slightly toward your own body. This directional movement changes the meaning to 'assist me' or 'help me.'
When you are the one providing the assistance, start the sign near your body and move both hands outward toward the person you are helping.
For a general statement about needing help, you can sign 'assist' moving straight up in a neutral space in front of your chest, without directing it at a specific person.
To ask for assistance, sign 'assist' but move the sign slightly toward your own body. This directional movement changes the meaning to 'assist me' or 'help me.'
When you are the one providing the assistance, start the sign near your body and move both hands outward toward the person you are helping.
For a general statement about needing help, you can sign 'assist' moving straight up in a neutral space in front of your chest, without directing it at a specific person.
Yes, in ASL, the sign for 'assist' is exactly the same as the sign for 'help.' The context of your sentence and the overall conversation will let the other person know which English word translates best.
Because 'assist' is a directional verb, you change the movement to show who is helping whom. To sign 'help me,' start the sign slightly away from your body and bring it toward your chest. To sign 'I help you,' start near your chest and move the sign toward the person.
Yes, your dominant hand should be in a 'thumbs up' position (an 'A' handshape with the thumb extended). The thumb pointing up represents the positive, uplifting nature of giving assistance or support.
