In the present climate of increasing concern about assessment and the need to prove successful learning outcomes, educators who work with deaf students are looking for alternatives to traditional, standardized, English-based tests. Innovative assessment strategies are emerging, emphasizing a shift toward a critical thinking/life-long learning assessment approach. Written self-assessments, applied critical thinking assessments, and student-generated portfolios encourage and teach active participation and involvement in the learning and evaluating process. We will explore the possibilities for incorporating and expanding the use of creative assessment as a way of tracking student progress and mastery.