Socialization For Your Deaf Child During the Pandemic

Socialization for your Deaf Child

Deaf education specialist Dr. Karen Kritzer recently shared these thoughts about providing socialization for your deaf child during the pandemic:

“While opportunities for socialization are limited for most children right now, for deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children, the problem is especially intense. Most DHH children tend to be the only people with hearing loss in their families, making the stay-at-home experience even more isolating. DHH children using American Sign Language (ASL) may have no one in their households with whom they can fluently communicate. Creating online and physically distanced interactive opportunities with their DHH peers is essential to maintaining the mental health of DHH children through this pandemic.” source

At ASDC, we are committed to helping deaf children thrive. In this post, you’ll find useful things you can do to help your child strengthen social connections with both friends and family members during the pandemic.

Connecting with Family

Learning ASL

• ASDC Online Classes
  Improve your ASL skills with courses taught by experts. ASL members get a discount! Join ASDC here.
• MyDeafChild.org
  If you have a deaf child under the age of three, you can qualify to get an online ASL course free!

Communicating with Family

• Wavello
  This new program from SorensonVRS lets your child see the person they are calling and their ASL interpreter at the same time in their video relay call. Hearing callers can download a free app to participate in the call.