Direct Service

Parent Infant Program (PIP) Volunteering

The ASL Club officers (myself included) volunteered to help out at a Parent Infant Program (PIP) event hosted at the Museum of Natural Curiosity. PIP is a program under the Utah Schools for the Deaf, created to support families with Deaf or hard-of-hearing children from birth to age 3. For this event, we were asked to come up with a craft idea for the kids, so we planned one out and supplied all the materials ourselves.

A lot of the kids were way more interested in running around the museum than sitting down for a craft, which honestly made the whole event feel full of joy and energy. But we did have a few kids stop by to paint or draw with markers, and during those moments, we got to interact directly with them in ASL. There was also a Deaf mentor present at the event, who was available to answer any questions families had about the PIP or language access for their child.

The social issue being addressed here is early language access and building community support for Deaf children and their families. As volunteers, we acted as allies for those Deaf kids, staying voice-off for most of the event to honor the visual nature of the language and make the space feel as inclusive as possible. When we needed to speak with hearing parents, we made sure to pair our spoken English with ASL, continuing to advocate for accessibility and inclusion in those moments too.

This kind of direct service work might seem simple on the surface, just a craft table and some markers, but it’s really about showing up for a community that we care deeply about. We weren’t there to “fix” anything, just to support, participate, and help create an environment where families felt welcomed, included, and seen

Community Partner: Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB)

For this assignment, I chose to focus on the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB). I researched the organization through their official website usdb.org, which provides extensive information about their programs, services, and educational philosophy. I’ve also learned more about their outreach programs by participating in events and exploring how they support Deaf students and their families throughout Utah.

Mission:

USDB’s mission is to provide high-quality, specialized education and support to students who are Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, visually impaired, or deafblind. Their goal is to empower these students to reach their full potential in school, in the community, and in life, using accessible and individualized learning strategies.

Societal Issues Addressed:

USDB addresses multiple societal issues, including language deprivation in Deaf children, unequal access to educational resources, and the need for culturally and linguistically affirming education. Their work supports families who are navigating hearing loss for the first time, while also ensuring Deaf students have access to both ASL and English through bilingual educational approaches.

Community Organizing & Activism:

USDB demonstrates a strong commitment to direct service by offering hands-on support and educational resources across the state. Through early intervention programs like the Parent Infant Program (PIP), classroom instruction in ASL/English, and family outreach, they directly serve the immediate needs of the Deaf community. Their efforts help bridge gaps in education and language access, which is a crucial form of community empowerment and advocacy.

Personal Involvement:

Yes, I absolutely see myself continuing to be involved with USDB. As an interpreting student and someone who is connected to the Deaf community, I admire their focus on accessibility, early education, and culturally affirming services. Whether it’s volunteering, participating in events, or eventually working in an educational interpreting setting, I would love to support their mission and continue building connections through their programs.