New website landing page educates, empowers families of deaf and hard-of-hearing children
Looking for deaf-friendly events for your child? Wondering if they are measuring up academically to their hearing peers? A new website landing page holds resources for families to address these questions and more.
The page offers curated, linked resources for Iowa parents raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. The resources are arranged by child’s age, including relevant subjects to each period of development. Birth through elementary resources are divided into new parent/guardian information, communication considerations, language and communication milestones, Iowa supports and services, national organizations and research opportunities. Elementary resources have an additional component of linked resources for educators.
As children mature and become responsible for their own decisions, the web page changes to reflect a child’s involvement in choices made for their future. Middle school and high school student resources are separated into categories offered for students and families, and those offered for educators. Students entering transition age will find supports categorized by Iowa transition and services, technology, video relay services and national organizations.
Descriptions of Iowa’s family support mentors are also found on the page. The page was developed as a requirement of House File 604, an act relating to language and literacy development for deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
Questions about the landing page may be directed to Anne-Michelle Pedersen: annemichelle.pedersen@iaedb.org. Pedersen serves as the state’s family mentoring support coordinator.
