Family Resources
Family Resources
Family resources include programs and services available for Arizona’s families with deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind (combined vision and hearing loss) newborns, children and youth.
- Office of Newborn Screening: Information for Parents, Hearing Screening – Arizona Department of Health Services
- “Growing Together: Creating Language-Rich Environment” – Interviews with parents, researchers, and scientists
- “Through Your Child’s Eye: American Sign Language” – Produced by California State University – Northridge & the California Department of Education
- Nyle DiMarco Foundation
Family Support & Other Resources
- Arizona Hands and Voices – Parent led organization
- Raising Special Kids – Parent led organization
- The Ear Foundation of Arizona – Hearing detection resource
Early Intervention Resources Birth to 3 years-old
- Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind, Family Outreach
- Arizona Early Intervention Program - Department of Economic Security (Cost for Early Intervention Services decision has been reversed - all services provided after July 1, 2014 are at no cost to families)
- Desert Voices – Early Intervention Program
Transition into Pre-Primary (3-5 years-old)
Arizona Preschool Resources
- Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind – Includes site-based schools in the Phoenix Metro Area, Tucson, and in ASDB’s Regional Cooperative programs
- Phoenix Day School for the Deaf Preschool – Phoenix Metro Area
- School for the Deaf Preschool – Tucson
- ASDB Regional Cooperatives – Statewide
- Desert Voices
The Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing maintains an invaluable Deaf Culture and Hearing Loss Resource Library. Our wide range of Books, DVDs, and CD-ROMs are useful for anyone interested in learning more about Hearing Loss, Deafness or American Sign Language. Materials cover a variety of topics including Deaf Culture, Interpreting, Linguistics of ASL, Hearing Loss, Communication Modes, and much more.
The ACDHH Deaf Culture and Hearing Loss Resource Library is available to anyone. Arizona residents may come to our physical location or mail two forms of ID, fill out a short form and borrow two items for a two-week period of time. The library is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
View a listing of resources here.
Education
There are many options for your child’s education, including mainstream and deaf school programs. Schools offer a variety of language modalities for instruction, and approaches to Arizona’s educational standards. Research what is available and what is the best fit for your child and family.
- Arizona Schools for the Deaf and Blind – Includes site-based schools in the Phoenix Metro Area, Tucson, & in ASDB’s Regional Cooperative programs
- Phoenix Day School for the Deaf (PDSD)
- Arizona School for the Deaf (ASD)
- ASDB Regional Cooperatives – Statewide
- Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing – Mesa, AZ
- Arizona Department of Special Education Transition Requirements
- Transition to Postsecondary Education – Office of Civil Rights
- “Getting What Your Child Needs to do Well in School” – Arizona Center for Disability Law (ACDL)
- Arizona Standardized Testing – AIMS, including information on testing accommodations and alternative testing
- Assistive Technology through the Arizona Department of Education
- Classroom Interpreting – Working with Educational Interpreters
- Communication Access in the Classroom
- Requesting an IEP meeting
- Understanding your child's IEP
- Parents supporting their Deaf/HH child during COVID 19
Technology Resources
From assistive technologies, to online & multi-media resources for language development – there are a multitude of technologies out there. Here we provide just a glimmer of the possibilities available.
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Strategies for Keeping Hearing Aids on Young Children - Success for Kids with Hearing Loss provides survey results from parents with deaf children that use hearing aids. Parents provided helpful tips and ideas that may be useful to you!
Assistive Technology
For more information, please see our AzTEDP page.
ASL & English Bilingual eBooks & Apps and Website Resource Pages
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American Sign Language Resources – American Sign Language University is a sign language resource site for ASL students and teachers.
- ASL Connect
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Gallaudet University eBook Series - The Baobab & The Boy Who Cried Wolf
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ASL Nook – American Sign Language learning resource for parents and children
- Hands Land
- Social Media ASL and family resources
Family Support
We have searched far and wide to find resources for parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children.
What's New in Family & Youth Resources?
Here you will find events and educational opportunities for family and deaf and/or hard of hearing youth in Arizona and elsewhere.
Check back to see what's happening next!
If there are Education Sessions you would like to see offered by the Commission, contact us at info@acdhh.az.gov!
Upcoming Events:
Did you know?
- Many people think loud toys are mostly designed for older kids, however, the majority of noisy toys are for children 6-years-old and younger.
- Lullaby type toys are often placed in cribs with infants, exposing the baby to excessive noise for extended periods of time.
- Many computer speakers can reach 100 dB and TVs can often be even louder!
- iPod ear buds can reach 130 dB - if you can hear the music while others are wearing ear buds/headphones its a clear sign that it's TOO LOUD!
- Exposure to loud noise early on habutuates the child to expect noise to be loud, he or she becomes used to loud sounds. This is NOT good.
Rule of Thumb:
85 dB is the max volume, beyond that it's not safe for any ears - young and older.
It's Summertime, what are your kids up to?
Check back regularly for summertime resources, programs and events in Arizona and around the country!
Summer Camps:
Arizona - Lion's Camp, Camp Tatiyee in Lakeside, AZ
California - Camp Grizzly in Wilseyville, CA