Our Story: Discover the Heart Behind Parents Gone Hiatus
OUR WHY.
At our dining table, we wanted every meal to feel inclusive. As a Deaf family, we realized something was missing: food that celebrated ASL and Deaf identity.
We also saw the bigger picture: Deaf and signing families, classrooms, and ASL learners everywhere needed fun, meaningful ways to bring ASL into daily life.
THE IDEA
Like many families, pasta was our comfort food — simple, familiar, and loved by our kids. We bought fun shapes like dinosaurs and ballerinas to keep picky eaters happy, but one day it hit us:
Why are there no foods designed with ASL handshapes?
That’s when we discovered how deeply “Dining Table Syndrome” affects Deaf/HoH children. Without language access at the table, kids miss out on connection and belonging. We knew something had to change.
So we reached out to a pasta company, brought our idea to life, and created ASL Pasta — pasta that celebrates language, culture, and identity in every bite, whether at home, in the classroom, or while learning ASL.
OUR MISSION
Parents Gone Hiatus (a Deaf family-owned business) exists to empower Deaf/HoH children, support signing families, give classrooms engaging ASL tools, and inspire ASL learners to connect more deeply with the language and culture.
ENTER ASL PASTA.
We left no detail behind:
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Texture & chewiness: 100% Durum Wheat with high-protein content for the perfect bite.
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Color & design: Vibrant ASL handshapes, naturally colored with vegetable powders.
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Sauce-friendly: Shapes and thickness designed to hold sauce without clumping.
It’s pasta that’s delicious, visual, and conversation-starting.
ENTER THE SEASONINGS.
Because we believe meals should be simple and fresh:
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Old-Fashioned Mac & Cheese: A familiar favorite with a secret twist.
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Basil’ly Pesto: Made fresh with three simple ingredients — no jars, no preservatives, just flavor.
Freshness guaranteed, family time (or classroom time!) preserved.
BEYOND THE BOWL
PGHiatus didn’t stop with pasta. Inside every bag you’ll find:
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SIGNWORD games for Deaf and signing families, teachers, and learners.
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Deaf culture facts & challenges to spark discussions at the table or in the classroom.
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Ideas for play: education, arts & crafts, sensory fun, and more.
Because inclusion should be interactive, empowering, and part of everyday life.
Let’s grab a bowl of ASL pasta and play because inclusion matters in every bite.
TIDBITS
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LAUNCH: Parents Gone Hiatus was born in Pittsburgh, PA (Jan 2022) and introduced ASL Pasta in Tucson, AZ (April 2022).
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RELEASE: Our online store went live in May 2022, built as a family right from our home.
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FEATURE: We’ve been celebrated and shared across the Deaf community — check out our social media to see the love.
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RELAUNCH: In 2025 we partnered with a local Arizona manufacturer using grains grown right here. Fresh, local, and true to our roots.
📸 Share your moments with #PGHiatusFUN — whether you’re a family, teacher, or learner — and you might be featured or even get a surprise in the mail!
THE HAPPENING: What's going on with Parents Gone Hiatus today? Go on over to our social media and/or sign up for our newsletter below to see all the latest updates on PGHiatus. We are eternally grateful to our team, our customers, our family and friends, our Deaf community, and everyone who helped us get here!
THE TEAM.
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Meet Elizabeth Edgar. Unstoppable Go-Getter. |
Meet Alexander Heath.
Jack-of-all-Trades. Master of Some. |
Together, we’re building a movement where Deaf and signing families, classrooms, and learners can eat, play, and live their language at the table and beyond.