How to sign “Assistance” in ASL
The BSL sign for “Assistance” isn't in our dictionary yet — it will be fingerspelled in BSL mode, never replaced with this ASL sign.
Step by step
- Close your dominant hand into a loose A fist, keeping the thumb sticking up and slightly out.
- Rest that fist on the open palm of your flat non-dominant hand, held at about waist height.
- Lift both hands upward together a few inches, as if boosting the fist from below.
- Keep the non-dominant palm facing up so it visibly supports the raised fist.
- Aim the sign toward the person you mean: start near yourself for 'I help you', near them for 'you help me'.
Practice tip
HELP is directional — the lifting motion points at whoever receives the assistance, so no separate ME or YOU sign is needed.
Fingerspell “Assistance”
Letter by letter — a handy backup if you forget the sign above. This is not the sign itself.
Text-based guide researched from established ASL references (Lifeprint, university and public-health materials) and rewritten in original words. Signer-created photos and videos are a planned future upgrade.