Direct Service

 Parent Infant Program 

The social issue being addressed is working to empower families to help their children to reach their potential in language, social, emotional, and academic development. The vision of the Parent Infant Program is for Deaf and hard of hearing children to reach developmentally appropriate language skills and become preschool ready.

The Parent Infant Program (PIP) affects the Deaf community as it strives to provide early intervention services and coordination including:

·      Support for parents and families in their efforts to understand their child’s hearing loss.

·      Information, training, modeling, and consultation for parents and family to allow for an increased understanding of their child’s unique needs.

·      Networking opportunities for families to meet others who have children with hearing loss.

·      Resources and instruction designed to prepare children with a hearing loss to reach their highest potential in preparation for further education.

 A direct service activity to aid in relieving connected symptoms of the issues is a family activity allowing families to meet others who have children with hearing loss.  A day for families at the Living Planet Aquarium with instruction, training, modeling, and consultation for parents and families to increase their understanding of their child’s unique needs.

Jeralie and I contacted Stephanie Morgan, the USDB Parent Infant Program director and Stephanie expressed her needs for help with the PIP Aquarium Activity. SLCC students were asked to help with the snack, raffle prizes, and craft for 50 children.  Jeralie and I organized a proposal to SLCC and received $500 to support PIP with this activity to the Living Planet Aquarium. We were in charge of organizing an ocean themed craft and snack ideas. We counseled with Stephanie about ideas and rules of the aquarium with regards to food. We applied the funds received from SLCC to buy the craft and snack. Levi Lopez assembled the kits for the craft and we recruited 5 students and our teacher to attend and help with the activity. Three SLCC Students and Connie Spanton-Jex (our teacher) assisted in making the craft and distributing the snack. 

This event was held on March 9, 2024, and invited all PIP families to come together in a safe place to meet, use ASL, discuss the needs of children, and find support from others. I enjoyed socializing with PIP families and their Deaf/Hard of Hearing children as they came together and discovered the Living Planet Aquarium and made new friends along the way.

Robert Sanderson Community Center for the Deaf/Division of Services of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DSDHH)

I researched this community partner through their website. The organization’s mission is to elevate, unify, and empower the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind Utahns by building an inclusive community with full communication access. The Utah Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind community shows the world what life looks like, free of barriers. 

The societal issues DSDHH include: 

Case Management: Community Advocacy Services (CAS) professionals at the DSDHH are trained to support individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind to identify and obtain needed services from federal, state or county programs, teach independence and self-advocacy, coordinate mental health counseling if needed, and more. 

Communication Assessment: A Communication Assessment is a tool for recognizing the communication barriers that individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing face. The Communication Assessment involves testing for communication strengths in the areas of lipreading, reading, writing, fingerspelling, and signing. The goal of the assessment is to identify and determine which communication needs and accommodations are best suited to the individual. 

Employment Services provides opportunities and information for deaf and hard of hearing individuals.

Hard of Hearing Services: Many different resources are offered to Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals. These services include classes and presentations to help communication habits for those with hearing loss and their family members, help in understanding hearing aids better, and available accommodations and more. 

The Outreach and Technology Program: provides referral, in-service training and resources to all businesses, private and public agencies throughout the State of Utah. 

Southern Utah Program: A community in Southern Utah for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, deaf-blind and their families: promoting connections, awareness and equity while inspiring greatness. This program serves the community through educational, recreational, social, and cultural experiences.

Utah Interpreter Program: UIP is responsible for certifying and regulating all American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters providing services in the state of Utah. UIP offers interpreter certification exams for both Deaf and hearing interpreters and recognizes certifications issued by The Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) and scores above 3.5 from the Educational Interpreter Proficiency Assessment (EIPA). 

UIP also provides mentoring, workshops an interpreting library, and an interpreting lab where individuals can practice and receive feedback. 

The civic engagement concept of Direct Service is explored by the Sanderson Community Center for Deaf people through various opportunities to serve and support activities and events that support Deaf and hard of hearing individuals

I can see myself being involved with the Sanderson Center for the Deaf because I've had several opportunities to join socials and activities geared toward supporting Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. I’ve taken part in ASL classes, served at the Fall Bazaar, helped decorate for the Gala event, participated in socials, and enjoyed my time meeting new friends. I intend to continue to show my support of DSDHH and I am happy to join this community partner when the opportunity arises.