SO YOU HAD A DEAF BABY...

CONGR ATU LATIONS!! !

Sunday, April 21, 2013

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

YOUR BABY is now part of a group of 38 million Americans with significant hearing loss! YOUR BABY is now part of a group of over 1.3 million deaf and hard children in America! 90% of Deaf babies are born to hearing parents just like YOU!

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Top Myths About Deafness: 1

Deaf people want to be hearing: FALSE: The Deaf community is a proud and thriving minority in America, one that does not wish to be fixed.(5) In fact, most Deaf individuals do not consider themselves to be disabled, they instead create a strong identity within their community. (1)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Top Myths About Deafness: 2

Cochlear Implants are my only, and best, option: FALSE: While cochlear implants may work for some, they do not restore or cure deafness. (3) Teachers of Deaf children agree that ASL provides the best access to communication, and most supports cognitive and personal development. (5)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Top Myths About Deafness: 3

Being Deaf limits ones career possibilities. FALSE: Thanks to advocacy from Deaf and hearing people alike, Deaf individuals are now social workers, professors, actors, psychologists, politicians, and much more. A 2006 survey of alumni from Gallaudet University reported that these Deaf graduates felt well prepared for their careers. (4)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Top Myths About Deafness: 4

Learning American Sign Language will hinder my childs ability to learn English. FALSE: According to a study published by Oxford University, Deaf children with high mastery of American Sign Language will preform better in English literacy than peers of the same IQ without ASL. (2)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Top Myths About Deafness: 5

My Deaf baby will not get a normal childhood:
FALSE: Deafness will not limit your child. With amenities such as light alarms and video phones, children are able to communicate and play freely. (1) There are numerous Deaf Clubs, 100+ schools, and many Deaf sport teams in the US alone. (3) With the use of ASL and interpreters, they can freely interact within both hearing and Deaf communities.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

What is American Sign Language?

American Sign Language is the visual-gestural language that is currently used by more than 2 million Deaf Americans as a primary means of communication. (Rosenberg, 2006). (6)

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Testimonials
Growing up as a Deaf person, I often felt as if my [non-signing] parents
didn't know me. When my daughter was born, she was also Deaf. I wanted to make sure we had a relationship. I knew the key was language...

through ASL I now feel like I know my daughter.

--Dr. Tomas Garcia

My job as a parent is to open doors, and ASL was a door that I opened... Now I have a [Deaf] daughter that can walk through many different doors and feel comfortable .
-- Jenny Ronco

She told me why she wanted to learn ASL, but my observation is that she wanted to have a relationship with me like any other parent-- I believe it was love. -- Julie Baer
Quotes taken from Through Your Childs Eyes: ASL
Sunday, April 21, 2013

Deafness is not a limitation: Examples of Notable Deaf Individuals

Claudia Gordon First deaf female African American lawyer. Currently a political appointee within the Obama Administration, serving in the Dept. of Labor and Dept. of Homeland Security.

Laurent Clerc Co-founder of the first school for the deaf in America, Laurent fought for the rights of ASL. He was an advocate for Deaf rights, and inspired the spread of deaf education across the U.S.

Jay, Michelle. "Famous Deaf People." Famous Deaf People. Start ASL, 2008.
Sunday, April 21, 2013

Deafness is not a limitation: Examples of Notable Deaf Individuals

Marlee Matlin Famous Deaf actress and strong advocate of ASL, Matlin received an Academy Award for Best Actress. She also has appeared on many popular TV shows like Desperate Housewives and Celebrity Apprentice.

Thomas Alva Edison

An American scientist, inventor, and businessman. Famed for inventing the recording telegraph, the lightbulb, and Edison Motion Pictures. Quoted saying he found did not invent hearing aids because he enjoyed being deaf.

Jay, Michelle. "Famous Deaf People." Famous Deaf People. Start ASL, 2008.
Sunday, April 21, 2013

Resources: Parenting Books

Choices in Deafness: A Parents Guide to Communication Options by Sue Swartz Friendly Parenting with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children by Denise Weston & Daria Medwin Babys First Signs by Kim Votary and Curt Waller Im Deaf and Its Okay by Lorraine Aseltine, Evelyn
Mueller, and Nancy Tait.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Resources: Documentaries
Through Deaf Eyes: documents the lives of Deaf
Individuals in the 20th century; includes testimonials from Marlee Matlin, community leaders, and many others from the Deaf community.

Through Your Childs Eyes: American Sign Language: this film describes the importance of

giving Deaf children access to ASL, ensuring positive language, social, and cognitive development.

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Resources: Websites
Online Sign Dictionary: www.signingsavvy.com National Association of the Deaf: www.nad.com Deaf Bilingual Coalition: www.dbcusa.com Hiring an interpreter: www.rid.org Social Networking for Deaf Parents: www.deafmomworld.com

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Cited Resources
1: Reagan, Timothy. "A Sociocultural Understanding of Deafness: ASL and the Culture of Deaf People." ScienceDirect.com. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Spring 1995. 2: Strong M, Prinz P (1997) A study of the relationship between ASL and English literacy. Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education 2:3746. 3: "Facts About Hearing Loss." ChcHearing.org. Center for Hearing and Communication. Web. 11 Apr. 2013. 4: "Graduate School Alumni Testimonials."Http://www.gallaudet.edu/ gspp_gradtestimonials.xml Gallaudet Research Institute, 2006. 5: Through Your Child's Eyes: American Sign Language. Dir. DJ Kurs. Prod. Theresa Marth. Through Your Child's Eyes: American Sign Language. California Department of Education, 4 Feb. 2011. 6: Rosenberg, Karine Shemel. Baby Sign Language: Find out What's on Your Baby's Mind! New York: Barnes & Noble, 2006. Print.

Sunday, April 21, 2013