Every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., a group of friends gathers at a round table at Sunrise Coffee.

Armed with steaming mugs of coffee, hot chocolate and tea, the group quickly delves into conversation, talking about anything and everything: their lives, their childhoods, their families, their work.

For an outsider, it is impossible to eavesdrop on these conversations. Those who aren’t fluent in American Sign Language will see only a flurry of movement, as the group talks over each other, starts side conversations, and cheerily greets any latecomers.

But don’t be alarmed: though their quick hand movements may seem overwhelmingly difficult to understand at first, all it takes is a smile and a wave to be welcomed over to this group of friends’ table.

“For deaf people, every day is a struggle with the hearing world,” said Talitha Asteria, who is deaf. “Simple things, like getting a coffee, or going to the doctor are extremely difficult. People have no idea how to communicate with the deaf community.”

Walking into Sunrise Coffee on a Wednesday morning is a time when those who are deaf or hard of hearing can enter a welcoming environment where communication is easy.

The group first formed several years ago and frequented Better Living Through Coffee. Now, Sue Ohlson, owner of Sunrise Coffee, opens up the coffee shop for evening ASL classes and provides a space, and caffeination, for the deaf chat sessions on Wednesday mornings.

As a thank you, this month the ASL group presented Ohlson with a special award for being the Most Deaf-Friendly Business in Port Townsend.

Time to Connect

“It’s just a time for us to socialize,” said Jim Roth, who comes to the regular Wednesday gatherings each week. “We talk about our life stories.”

While the group spends the time catching up on their lives, they also discuss some of the challenges that those who are deaf face in the hearing world.

“The deaf community is very small here, but it is growing,” Asteria said. “We want to make Port Townsend more accessible for the deaf community.”

There is only one certified interpreter in Jefferson County, Asteria said, which means that if a deaf person has a court date or a doctor’s appointment, they may need to have an unofficial interpreter with them, or hire a contracted certified interpreter to come from another county.

According to the Department of Social and Health Services, Washington State agencies are obligated to provide sign language interpreters upon request to deaf or hard of hearing individuals who are seeking access to information, programs or services state agencies provide to the public. The nearest contract interpreters are located in Seattle.

In an emergency, someone who is deaf might have trouble communicating with police officers and first responders who don’t know any sign language.

“A few years ago there was a deaf man who had a stroke,” Asteria said. “He had trouble communicating at the hospital and he was all alone.”

Jefferson Healthcare offers text telephones and pocket talkers, but is unable to provide in-person interpretation, according to Amy Yaley, director of marketing and communications at Jefferson Healthcare.

Besides doing official business, every day interaction can also be a challenge. When buying groceries, getting a coffee, or going out to eat means struggling to communicate with a checker, barista, or server, sometimes it might be easier just to stay at home.

That is why having a gathering place for the deaf community is so necessary. It also provides an opportunity for people to learn ASL.

“I have a deaf granddaughter and I want to learn to communicate better for her,” said Kathy Montalbano.

Crystal Eisele teaches ASL classes at the Sunfield School. To brush up on her skills, she comes to the deaf chat group, where she can practice in real time conversations. She hopes that it will be offered in more schools in the future.

The more people who know ASL, the easier it becomes for people who are deaf to communicate in everyday situations, Asteria said.

Even knowing a few signs is a huge help, said Burl Norville, who comes to the deaf chat group.

Just being able to sign “Hello,” “Please” and “Thank you” can make a big difference.

“Even if they don’t know any, don’t be afraid,” Norville said. “Just try to communicate.”

And though the deaf community is small in Port Townsend, Asteria is hoping that making Port Townsend a more deaf-friendly place by teaching ASL will bring more newcomers to the community.

“I want to teach ASL to help spread that out in the world,” she said. “If people are enthusiastic and want to learn, they are welcome.”

To learn more about ASL classes, contact Talitha Asteria at ptaslclasses@gmail.com. To join in the deaf chat, grab a coffee at Sunrise on Wednesday mornings, learn how to fingerspell your name, and join in the fun.