CULTURAL INFORMATION: EARLY INTERVENTION & HELPFUL RESOURCES
Research shows that early intervention and parental involvement can enable Deaf children to gain cognitive information and educational levels at or near the level of their hearing peers. Research and observation also indicate that the lack of early intervention and family involvement will have the opposite affect. In the past, most Deaf students graduated High School with a first to third grade reading level. Rather than being discouraged by the facts of the past, let’s be encouraged with the hope of the future. More and more states are passing laws requiring the mandatory testing of newborns for hearing loss, making early intervention and family involvement possible. Families can make a total difference for their Deaf child and do what is necessary to help them reach their full potential. That is the reason for our sign language books and video tapes, to give parents another tool to accomplish just that. Other helpful resources (catalogs, magazines and websites) can be found on our links page. It is not meant to be an exhaustive list, just a place to start equipping yourself for this task.
“Parents are the single most critical factor in the education and future of their children.”
This quote was taken from a pamphlet from Parent Links, a statewide network of parents in California supporting families of infants who have a hearing loss. It can be overwhelming, but you are not alone. Such organizations exist in many states. Feel free to contact them for support, information and the names of other parents in your area. Remember, YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
See this article video.