ASLA’s History
Our bold school is built on a foundation of love and family. In 2010, a group of families came together to envision an innovative, inclusive school that would meet their childrens’ needs when existing school systems couldn’t — or wouldn’t.
One of these children was Ben. Soon after Ben was born in 2008, ASLA co-founders Rafe and Jen Martinez knew his journey would be different from his sister’s. Ben failed the newborn hearing test, and as he grew, he showed signs of a developmental disability. Like all parents, Rafe and Jen wanted the best for their son.,All children deserve to grow up with every opportunity to learn, to thrive in relation to their abilities, and to feel connected to the world around them. Unfortunately, a school that could offer this to a child like Ben did not exist.
As Ben grew, Rafe and Jen connected with other families who shared their experiences — families whose children didn’t fit cleanly into the educational systems of that time.. In2010, along with a few big-hearted educators, they founded the Albuquerque Sign Language Academy, a one-of-a-kind, dual-language public charter school that keeps families together by teaching deaf, hearing, and students like Ben in one beautiful, inclusive environment. All children, regardless of ability, reach their full potential as ONE COMMUNITY.
Today, ASLA is the nation’s first and only state-certified ASL/English dual-language school, serving both deaf and hearing students, special-education and gifted students together in an inclusive, academically rigorous K-12 environment. By keeping deaf and hard-of-hearing students connected to their families and to the broader community, the ASL Academy is building bridges to a bolder, brighter future.
From a grass-roots beginning, ASLA has grown to serve more than 160 K-12 students. In 2026, we moved into our brand new, state-of-the-art school building, where we will build upon our bold, innovative, compassionate model of what 21st-century deaf education can and should be.
ASLA Stories
Language Needs Family: How Community Fuels Learning
“I feel like it’s where I fit in. I don’t have to worry about not being able to understand because the teachers talk and sign to us. If I were at another school, I’d be asking ‘what?’ a lot of the time.”
—Cole Quitero, ASLA Student
Expanding What’s Possible: Opening Career Pathways for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
“As a parent I understand firsthand how it feels when your child is not included, to see them sit shyly at the back when their hearing aid isn’t working. That’s what’s so special about the ASL Academy; it allows all of your children to have the same opportunities, and provides role models from all hearing abilities.”
—Yancy Ranspot, ASLA Parent
Is My Child Really Learning? How American Sign Language alongside English supports deeper learning and family engagement.
“It’s not just about one child, it’s the whole family we were trying to keep together. This school has helped build a family connection that wouldn’t have been there otherwise.”
—Therese Garcia, ASLA Teacher & Parent
