Faced with a decision…Faced with a decision…

. Modes, Methods. Modes, Methods

. Available Resources. Available Resources

. Technology. Technology

. Personal & Societal . Personal & Societal issuesissues Beliefs about DisabilityBeliefs about Disability Social IsolationSocial Isolation Grief, fear, shame or elation?Grief, fear, shame or elation?

. Peers & Social Outlets. Peers & Social Outlets

. Educational Options. Educational Options

. Lack of & Validity of . Lack of & Validity of InformationInformation

Copyright © 2009 Hands & Voices

So much to consider!So much to consider! Age of IdentificationAge of Identification Onset of Hearing loss Onset of Hearing loss Degree of Hearing lossDegree of Hearing loss Benefit from Hearing AidsBenefit from Hearing Aids Family Dynamics:Family Dynamics:

Siblings & Extended FamilySiblings & Extended Family LifestyleLifestyle Bilingual issuesBilingual issues Culture & ValuesCulture & Values Attitude & CommitmentAttitude & Commitment FinancesFinances

Multiple Issues or LabelsMultiple Issues or Labels Family Support SystemFamily Support System Urban or RuralUrban or Rural So much more…So much more…

© Hands & Voices 2009

The Menu ApproachThe Menu Approach

American Sign LanguageAmerican Sign Language Auditory OralAuditory Oral Auditory VerbalAuditory Verbal Cued SpeechCued Speech Total CommunicationTotal Communication Sign Systems (SEE, SEE2, Sign Systems (SEE, SEE2,

PSE)PSE) Verbo-TonalVerbo-Tonal

Choose one!

Is the method or the child leading this

process?

Can we changeour mind?

Are we too reliant on

professionals?

Did we make thisdecision or werewe manipulated

into it?

© Hands & Voices 2009

““We We failed.”failed.”

vs.

““The The method method failed.”failed.”

Hands & Voices Approach =Hands & Voices Approach = Trained, D Trained, Direct Parent to Parent Support irect Parent to Parent Support

&&

Communication Considerations Communication Considerations A – Z™A – Z™

““Will he talk? Will he talk? Should he?Should he? We don’t know anybody who signs--how will we learn We don’t know anybody who signs--how will we learn how to sign with her?how to sign with her? Where will she go to school? Where will she go to school? How will we know the How will we know the communication choice we’re making is right for our child? communication choice we’re making is right for our child? Who can help? Who can help? When When should we decide about a cochlear implant? should we decide about a cochlear implant? Can he attend our neighborhood school?Can he attend our neighborhood school? Will she have friends? Will she have friends? What don’t we know? What don’t we know? whose philosophy is right? whose philosophy is right? What if we What if we make the wrong choices? make the wrong choices? Why won’t my father-in-law play with him? Why won’t my father-in-law play with him? How is this How is this supposed to work when we’re driving??? supposed to work when we’re driving??? The school says No!?The school says No!?

What if the other children don’t understand her?What if the other children don’t understand her? What if he doesn’t understand What if he doesn’t understand the other children? the other children? Can she “feel” the starter gun at swim meets? Can she “feel” the starter gun at swim meets? Will he be able to play Will he be able to play

football or wrestle? football or wrestle? Should I still sing her a lullaby? Should I still sing her a lullaby? What will he think of our What will he think of our choices one day?choices one day?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

© Hands & Voices 2009

““The Book of ChoiceThe Book of Choice is a wonderful is a wonderful expression of what we know to be true:expression of what we know to be true:parents sharing directly with other parents sharing directly with other parents of children who are deaf or parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing bring an essential kind hard of hearing bring an essential kind of hope, inspiration and empower-of hope, inspiration and empower-ment. This book is an amazing ment. This book is an amazing resource that captures that unique resource that captures that unique quality, and opens our minds to quality, and opens our minds to broader, more holistic views of broader, more holistic views of parenting a child with hearing loss. parenting a child with hearing loss. It’s just the kind of thing you’d expect It’s just the kind of thing you’d expect from Hands & Voices.”from Hands & Voices.”

-- Christine Yoshinaga-Itano, PhD, University of Colorado, Boulder USA

A New Resource for Family Support…A New Resource for Family Support…

Parents sharing their wisdom: what do I know now that Parents sharing their wisdom: what do I know now that I wish I knew right from the start…?I wish I knew right from the start…?

Libby Matlin, Illinoismother of Academy Award winning actress Marlee Matlin, shown here atage three

When Marlee was about three years old, I remember being in the bank and she was wearing her hearing aids in a harness with a pouch on the outside of her dress. She was double-aided, so of course the wires were visibly going into her ears. When I

turned around, there was Marlee with a group of little kids around her asking “what was she wearing and why?”

I held a little class and explained why she was wearing this “gadget.” Marlee was delighted, showing off her hearing aids to the kids while I narrated. I wish I knew back then that Marlee’s personality was going to overcome the embarrassment of

wearing all that equipment. She never let it slow her down.”

Communication Considerations Communication Considerations A to Z A to Z ™™1. What Is (the topic)?1. What Is (the topic)?2. What issues are at the forefront of this topic?2. What issues are at the forefront of this topic?3. What should every parent or professional know about the 3. What should every parent or professional know about the topic?topic?4. Where can I find more information on this topic?4. Where can I find more information on this topic?

Acoustics / Classroom Acoustics / Classroom AdaptationsAdaptations

Advocacy, EducationalAdvocacy, Educational ASL (American Sign LASL (American Sign L

anguage) anguage) Advocacy, SelfAdvocacy, Self Auditory NeuropathyAuditory Neuropathy AudiogramAudiogram Auditory Oral EducatioAuditory Oral Educatio

nn

Auditory Verbal TherapAuditory Verbal Therapyy

Access Access AdolescenceAdolescence ADA (Americans with ADA (Americans with

Disabilities Act) Age of Disabilities Act) Age of Identification Identification Availability of Availability of ResourcesResources

Signing Exact English, (Signing Exact English, (SEESEE) )

Self AdvocacySelf Advocacy Social Cognition / Social Cognition /

Theory of Mind Theory of Mind Sign Language - ASL Sign Language - ASL

(American Sign (American Sign Language) Language)

SiblingsSiblings Sign Language SportsSign Language Sports

Decision Making - Choices Decision Making - Choices Deaf Education Deaf Education Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights Deaf Child’s Bill of Rights Deaf Plus Deaf Plus DeafDeaf Deaf/Hard of Hearing Adult Deaf/Hard of Hearing Adult

Mentors Mentors Deaf/BlindDeaf/Blind Deaf Culture & Community Deaf Culture & Community

Degree of Hearing LossDegree of Hearing Loss DisabilityDisability

AA DD SS

© Hands & Voices 2009

25 Expert-Author Contributors include…25 Expert-Author Contributors include…

Mary Pat Moeller, PhDMary Pat Moeller, PhDBoystown National Research Boystown National Research

HospitalHospitalMarc Marschark, PhDNTID/Rochester Instituteof Technology, New York

Mary Ellen Nevins &Pat Chute

Arlene Kelly, PhD & Beth Benedict, PhDGallaudet University

Alys Young, PhDUniversity of Manchester

UK

Leeanne SeaverLeeanne SeaverLeeanne@handsandvoices.orgLeeanne@handsandvoices.org

““What works for your child What works for your child is what makes the choice is what makes the choice

right.” ™right.” ™

The Book of Choice ™The Book of Choice ™is available now

at the H&V Boothor on-line at

www.handsandvoices.org