Acting Early Matters
This is a webinar series for families of children with hearing needs. It presents brief summaries of early identification, early intervention, and language development that provide families with key introductory information to support the early and on-going language and cognitive development of their child. Spanish version available.
Parenting a Child Who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
This website provides a variety of articles and short videos on the first steps after a baby is identified with hearing needs. Also presents information on parenting and preparing for school entry.
Audiology in Childcare and School
All Children Can Benefit from the Support of
An Educational Audiologist
This article describes educational audiology and how caregivers can advocate for their services in IFSP, IEP, and 504 plans. Children enrolled in Early Intervention or attending preschool through college benefit from these services.
Checklist of Roles of Educational Audiologists,
Teacher of the Deaf, and Speech-Language Pathologists
This article presents a checklist of audiological, communication, and academic support services
children with hearing needs should be provided under current education and disability law.
Caregivers are encouraged to bring this checklist to IFSP, IEP, and 504 meetings to ensure these
services are provided and clarify the staff responsible for their provision.
Auditory-Verbal Therapy
What is Auditory-Verbal Therapy?
This article provides a one page overview of Auditory Verbal Therapy (AVT) and who benefits from these services.
What is Listening and Spoken Language?
This webpage explains the listening and spoken language approach which is also known as
Auditory-Verbal Therapy. This webpage is part of the Hearing First website. HearingFirst
provides a platform for parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and professionals
who work with children to connect and learn.
Learn American Sign Language (ASL)
This is a link to a free online course presented by Dr. Bill Vicars, a deaf adult who has been
teaching ASL for decades. Lessons are presented in ASL with English text support and plenty of
review and practice. Dr. Vicars is known for his clarity of presentation. Each lesson is 40-50
minutes.
This is a link to a free online course presented by Dr. Byron Bridges, a deaf adult who has been
teaching ASL for decades. Lessons are presented in ASL with oral English translation. Visual
reinforcers and English text support are also provided. Dr. Bridges is an expert in the field of
ASL linguistics, particularly ASL mouth morphemes. Each lesson is 20-30 minutes.
This is a link to an app that provides some free content including videos of vocabulary and
common phrases. For a small fee, the entire bundle can be purchased allowing access to nearly
2000 signs using a search window. This can be helpful for learning signs ‘in the moment’.
Peer-to-Peer Support:
Hands and Voices of Oregon supports families and children who are deaf and hard of hearing
through their journey by direct parent to parent connections, Deaf and hard of hearing
mentorship, educational advocacy, community development and support programs.
Listen-Learn-Link Parent Support Line
This is a link to information about a parent support line sponsored by the AG Bell Association
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell). AG Bell supports families and children who are
deaf and hard of hearing who use or are interested in listening and spoken language. The website
gives information on how to call or email their parent consultant.
This website features stories of children who use hearing aids and cochlear implants and listen
and talk. Each family shares their journey learning and supporting their child or children reach
their full potential.