Deaf & Hard of Hearing

Disability Etiquette Guide from United Spinal Association

The first Disability Etiquette Guide was published shortly after the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act by the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans of America, which became United Spinal Association in 2004. It was written by Terence Moakley and James Weisman and, over the years, has introduced countless people worldwide to our broad and diverse disability community.

We updated this edition with 21st-century sensibilities in mind. But the basics, as laid out by Moakley and Weisman, are still the same: People with disabilities are people first. They deserve dignity and respect, as do all people everywhere.

We hope this guide and the tips offered make interacting with members of the disability community more comfortable, leading to increased understanding and improved accessibility
for all.

Texas School for the Deaf Outreach Center ASL Storytelling

Check out our ASL Storytelling library! We have created so many fun stories and resources in ASL that can be used by students, parents, teachers, and anyone else interested in ASL Storytelling. We have many stories in our library but you can see our newest stories by clicking recently added books. The Stories from Home section was created during the Covid pandemic and contains several fun stories and lessons. Also featuring are short and fun videos: ‘Weird But True’ facts by National Geographic, Kids Signs and Fun Facts. These videos can be used as a learning resource.
Each video was created to support literacy and ASL language acquisition. If you love these resources, you might also be interested in other ASL resources provided by the Statewide Outreach Center - ASL Storytelling Classes, CSW, and Family Signs.

Listen Foundation

Listen Foundation was incorporated in 1969 when a group of parents came together because they shared the common experience of raising a child with a hearing impairment. These parents recognized that many other parents and professionals were unaware of technological and therapeutic options that enable children with a hearing loss to listen, speak and become part of mainstream society and that many families that might want to pursue these options did not have the financial means to pay for these services. The initial program was developed by the late Doreen Pollack, an internationally recognized author and expert in the field of Listening and Spoken Language therapy (then called acoupedics) – an innovative approach that helps children to use their residual hearing and speaking potential to communicate with spoken language rather than sign language. Since then, Listen Foundation has built up a network of the finest therapists in the state to continue the work that Ms. Pollack pioneered.
Over time this agency has expanded its offerings to include distance therapy, community outreach, parent education, professional training, and in 2019, the Listen Cochlear Implant Family Camp. Listen has received the Award for Excellence from the El Pomar Foundation and the 2018 Volta Award from the AG Bell Association for the Deaf in Washington, D.C. Doreen Pollack was inducted posthumously into the Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition of her groundbreaking work to improve the lives of children with hearing loss.

Joint Committee on Infant Hearing

The Joint Committee on Infant Hearing was established in late 1969 and composed of representatives from audiology, otolaryngology, pediatrics, and nursing. It was the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA), the then American Academy of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology (AAOO) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) who first met. The Committee was charged with a two-fold responsibility: first, to make recommendations concerning the early identification of children with, or at-risk for hearing loss and second, newborn hearing screening. In 1970, the committee's first statement was that mass hearing screening could not be justified at that time because there were no appropriate test procedures. The statement encouraged ongoing research and acknowledged the need to detect hearing loss early in life.

Gallaudet University

The Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University is a federally funded center with exemplary elementary and secondary education programs for deaf and hard of hearing students and is tasked with developing and disseminating innovative curricula, instructional techniques, and products nationwide while providing information, training, and technical assistance for parents and professionals to meet the needs of deaf and hard of hearing students from birth to age 21.

Fingerspelling.xyz

Fingerspelling.xyz is a web-based app that helps people improve their ASL, American Sign Language, finger-spelling.

Ear Community

EarCommunity.orgEar Community is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that offers a warm and supportive community for individuals who were born with Microtia (missing or underdeveloped ears) and Aural Atresia (absent or underdeveloped ear canals resulting in hearing loss). Our organization also helps individuals who have Craniofacial Microsomia and Goldenhar Syndrome.

A Community of Support

Connecting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing plus (DHH Plus) with resources & support

About this Guide
This Guide was developed by the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Parent to Parent Committee, which is an interdisciplinary, inter-agency/ inter-organizational and diverse parent/ professional group.

The Purpose:
• To ensure your family knows how, where, and why to access expertise, resources and information for your child who is DHH Plus.
• To share information about the benefits and availability of connections to other families and adults who are DHH Plus, so you know you are not alone.
• To assert your right to have high expectations for your child.

Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP)

The Colorado Shared Reading Project (CSRP) is a free outreach service provided by the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB) for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, birth through age 8. CSRP helps families learn book sharing strategies to read effectively to their children using American Sign Language (ASL) while improving communication skills. Studies show reading to children is the most important activity parents can do to increase their child's reading success.

How the Colorado Shared Reading Project works:
> Once a week, a Language and Literacy Instructor (LLI) who is a native ASL user will teach you how to sign a popular children's storybook.
> The visits are scheduled at a time convenient for each family.
> Family members practice signing the story. The LLI gives feedback to family members.
> Along with the book, the instructor will play games, share fun activities and suggestions for improving reading and communication skills.

The Shared Reading Project was developed by the Clerc Center to provide support for parents and caregivers on how to effectively share books with their child who is deaf and hard of hearing. When parents effectively share books, there is a greater likelihood of an improvement in the reading ability of their child and it contributes to higher reading ability in school. Parents can participate in CSRP through in-home or web-based instruction.

Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP)

Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP), a collaborative model of early intervention services, is designed specifically to provide services for families who have children who are Deaf and hard of hearing, ages birth to three years old.

CDC Hearing Loss in Children

This page helps parents and caregivers learn more about hearing loss in children.

KeyPoints:
-Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills.
-The earlier that children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential.
-If you think that a child might have hearing loss, ask the child’s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait!