Contestant's Case to Win

Read more about me in a StartupNation featured story

When Rachel Coleman and her husband Aaron discovered their first daughter Leah was deaf, they immediately started learning ASL so they could communicate with her. Then Rachel teamed up with her sister Emilie Brown to create a entertaining video which made it easy and fun for their family and friend to learn ASL so they could communicate with Leah. In May of 2002 Rachel, Leah age 5 and Emile’s son Alex age 3 started filmed Signing Time – My First Signs.

In 2005, Rachel and Emilie launch a second series geared towards infants titled “Baby Signing Time”. Emilie’s son Zachary started in the first two volumes in which all of the children in are two and under.

Since then, Signing Time has grown to include 28 DVDs, 7 CDs, 3 Board Books, 4 flash card sets and even aired on PBS stations throughout the country. Baby Signing Time has grown to include 4 DVDs, 5 CDs and 4 flash card sets. Signing Time and Baby Signing Time have helped countless families begin to communicate through signs with babies who are not old enough to talk, children who have special needs that make speech a challenge, and as a fun second language for any child.

Rachel has connected with her fans on a personal level through her blog, attends weekly chats with fans, participates on an online Signing Time Forums, and appearing at Buddy Walks, conferences and Signing Time Foundation outreach events. She has openly shared her trials and triumphs as an individual, parent and business owner. In January of 2008 Rachel and the Signing Time Foundation partnered with Signs of Hope International where they traveled to Ghana to teach ASL in to the teachers at the deaf school. She returned a few months later as an advocate for the students at a Government summit. In August of 2008 Rachel, helped grant a wish through the Make a Wish Foundation by delivering the complete Signing Time collection personally along with Alex, Leah and the Signing Time mascot Hopkins.

Rachel’s second daughter Lucy was born with spina bifida and cerebal palsy and has experienced many challenges. Inspired by Lucy and her love of life, Rachel and Emilie created the Signing Time Foundation to create programs and opportunities designed to dissolve barriers that exist for children with disabilities. The mission of Signing Time Foundation is to enrich the lives of children of all abilities. www.signingtimefoundations.org

Rachel and Emilie are truly leading mothers in business. They not only run their business, they have created a product that has benefited families around the world.