D.E.A.F. Project

The D.E.A.F. Project

We provide....

Empowerment for families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing so they can receive the most effective services and their children can enjoy the greatest educational opportunities resulting in productive and enriched lives.

We believe....

• Deaf and Hard of Hearing children can accomplish anything!
• Families are the key to any child's accomplishments.
• Diversity of culture and language should be celebrated and shared within families.
• Parent-to-Parent support is your greatest resource.
• Deaf role models are an important part of the Deaf child’s identity and development.
• Parents need opportunities to have positive experiences with Deaf adults.

Through research we know ...

Signed language provides the earliest possible way children can acquire language.

Signed language is known to enhance early communication for children.

All children can learn signs before they are capable of producing speech.

Learning signs gives Deaf and hearing children a way to express themselves long before they can use speech to say what they want.

Social and emotional health, for families and the child, are more positive because early communication is facilitated through language.

Access to visual language can not be replaced by speech therapy and technology.

 (Malloy, 2006. A full reprint of this is available at www.deafchildren.org)

http://www.csun.edu/~deafproject/