Research in the deaf x lab is based upon two key themes. First, we seek to understand the ways that deaf people perceive and attend to visual information, and second, we aim to understand how learning a signed language such as ASL affects visual processing. We take a Deaf Gain perspective and focus upon the strengths and abilities of deaf children and adults, aiming to also understand how Deaf-appropriate environments - linguistic and physical - can harness a deaf child’s strengths in educational settings.