I have been asked to inquire if folks have come across references to the Mexica or other Nahuatl speaking peoples having a sign language in order to communicate with the deaf? It seems that several of the Maya languages did and still have such systems. Some individuals with differing abilities were respected and revered under the Mexica and other Nahuatl speaking groups. I am not familiar with instances of deafness.. Molina identified naca(z)tzatza as a deaf person, while Karttunen lists both tzatza and nacaztzatza as a deaf person.
Any assistance will be welcome.
J. F. Schwaller
Ed