India, Aug. 20 -- Opening thoughts. Josh Staub, a veteran Disney animator known for his visual effects and lighting work on films like Frozen, Tangled, and Wreck-It Ralph, has launched a free American Sign Language (ASL) learning app called Small Talk ASL, which is available for free on Windows PCs, and Apple macOS.

Staub's journey began a few years ago when he started writing a script for an animated short film that featured a character which couldn't hear. To ensure authenticity, he began taking ASL lessons, and immediately appreciated how this different ability forged deep friendships within the community, and an immense need to bridge a communication gap between individuals who cannot hear, and those who can.

The app features an exp...