April 2020

Did You Know: Tips for distance learning

Due to concerns about the spread of COVID-19 schools are closing down. Teachers are trying their best to make distance learning work for their students. Learning will be different during this time that teachers are using online platforms. Here are some tips for parents to help their kids during this time:

Make sure students are checking in with their teacher(s) everyday.
Teachers will let students and families know what the plan for distance learning will be.
You can expect distance learning to be different than traditional school.
Help students with their hearing assistive technology and ask your child's DHH teacher for help if needed.
Help students to access closed captioning on videos from teachers.

Parent Resources

Minnesota Hands and Voices

has some fun upcoming events. Check them out in the activities section below and register if interested. Also check out the Hands and voices parent newsletter at https://www.mnhandsandvoices.org/news-events/focus-newsletter

Deaf/Hard of Hearing Guide

Many students who are deaf and hard of hearing have never met someone just like them and may be struggling with their identity as a hard of hearing or deaf person. Would you like to connect with a DHH role model in your area that could meet with your child outside of school and help them learn about things like peer friendships, using technology, self-esteem and identity, and thinking about the future? Lifetrack in Minnesota offers a program that you should take advantage of! Learn more about the program HERE and read about the guides in Minnesota.

Lifetrack Deaf Mentor

The Deaf Mentor family program is offered to families who have a deaf or hard of hearing child. They work with families and use research-based curriculum to promote communication and language skills. For more information about the program click HERE.

College Scholarships for Students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing

Is your child in the process of applying to college? HERE is a list of available scholarships for students with hearing differences.

Book Recommendations

You're Welcome Universe by Whitney Gardner

When Julia finds a slur about her best friend scrawled across the back of the Kingston School for the Deaf, she covers it up with a beautiful (albeit illegal) graffiti mural. Her supposed best friend snitches, the principal expels her, and her two mothers set Julia up with a one-way ticket to a “mainstream” school in the suburbs, where she’s treated like an outcast as the only deaf student. The last thing she has left is her art, and not even Banksy himself could convince her to give that up. Out in the ’burbs, Julia paints anywhere she can, eager to claim some turf of her own. But Julia soon learns that she might not be the only vandal in town. Someone is adding to her tags, making them better, showing off—and showing Julia up in the process. She expected her art might get painted over by cops. But she never imagined getting dragged into a full-blown graffiti war.