By Kendra Benedict | Point of View
Every parent with school age children faces the challenging decision about where their child will attend school.
However, when your child is born deaf/hard of hearing (D/HH), blind/visually impaired (B/VI) or deafblind, the decision is even more challenging.
While the decision to place a child in a particular school is one that often takes place around the age of 5 when the child enters kindergarten, a child who is deaf or blind may be eligible for educational programming much sooner than that.
Without starting interventions at birth, children facing D/HH, B/VI or deafblindness will likely be at a serious disadvantage and have difficulty reaching the necessary milestones to keep their learning on pace with their peers.
Thankfully, Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind offers a specialized program designed to meet the needs of infant and preschool children who are born D/HH, B/VI or deafblind.
An integrated approach to early learning
The Early Learning Program at ASDB caters to children from birth to five years old, emphasizing the importance of building relationships and trust as the foundation of its approach. Upon entering a home, ASDB specialists prioritize understanding the family’s unique circumstances and the impact of the child’s hearing or vision difference has on their daily lives. This assessment helps identify the necessary interventions, which may include occupational therapy, speech therapy and other specialized services.
One of the program’s primary goals is to integrate vital skills into the child’s daily routine. For instance, helping a visually impaired or deaf infant develop effective communication skills during everyday activities like family meals, morning preparations and public outings. Recognizing that language learning starts from birth, the program emphasizes the importance of supporting parents in establishing and nurturing the parent-infant bond.
Developing effective communication skills
Communication is the key to the Early Learning Program, and ASDB recognizes the variety of ways it can be achieved. For deaf children, American Sign Language (ASL) may be introduced immediately, treating it with the same importance as a spoken language.
However, the program also acknowledges the diversity among children it serves and respects all modes of communication parents may choose to incorporate. Whether it be spoken English, ASL, tactile communication or assistive technology, the goal is to support parents and enable them to meet the individual communication needs of their child.
Some children might start using sign language before they try to speak, showing how flexible and adaptable the program is. The educators and specialists at ASDB are dedicated to teaching families how to bond with their children in new ways they might not have previously considered no matter what challenges they are facing.
Additionally, ASDB uses deaf mentors, who are deaf adults themselves, to play a crucial role in this process. They work primarily with parents, introducing them to the culture, community, and resources available to the deaf. ASDB partners with the Foundation for Blind Children to provide support to children who are B/VI or deafblind and their families in the Maricopa County area.
Statewide impact and support
ASDB’s ELP operates statewide, ensuring that families across Arizona have access to its resources. One of the key benefits for children enrolled in the program is the consistent, high-quality interaction with qualified teachers of the D/HH and B/VI. These educators are experts in drawing language out of children, whether through spoken English, ASL or nonverbal communication.
Unlike public school settings where specialized teachers do not have the capacity to support children one on one, ASDB’s preschool program allows qualified teachers of the deaf to engage with students for seven hours a day, four days a week. This provides a much more nurturing and immersive learning environment.
Critical early years
The importance of early intervention cannot be emphasized enough. The first five years of a child’s life are critical for making connections to the world around them. Missing out on this essential period can make it significantly harder to develop these connections later. ASDB’s ELP is designed to maximize this crucial window, offering about 70 professionals, including teachers, related service specialists, instructional assistants, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, all dedicated to supporting each child’s unique developmental journey.
Enrollment and accessibility
Enrolling in the ELP requires a referral through Arizona’s Early Intervention Program (AzEIP). Parents need to visit the AzEIP website to complete the necessary paperwork, after which the child’s medical records are reviewed to determine eligibility. For preschoolers, the enrollment process must begin with their district of residence. All services provided by ASDB’s ELP are at no cost to parents, ensuring that financial difficulties do not prevent families from accessing essential support.
ASDB encourages parents to take a tour of the facilities to see firsthand the nurturing and stimulating environment their children will benefit from. ASDB’s Early Learning Program is dedicated to building strong and trusting relationships with families while offering expert knowledge and compassionate care. It serves as a source of hope and support statewide, meeting the unique needs of each child and family. ASDB not only teaches but also helps create a brighter future for Arizona’s children by encouraging connections and growth.
Editor’s Note: Kendra Benedict is statewide director, early learning program for Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind
