The Hands & Voices Parent Guide is a parent of a deaf or hard-of-hearing child who has been trained to provide support and advocacy for other families. Our guides have real life experience in raising a deaf/hh child, and are knowledgeable about the challenges encompassing this journey. These guides are available to respond to the individual needs of each family and can utilize a whole network of Hands & Voices Chapters across the country and outside its borders as needed.

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Parent-to-Parent Networking looks like:

• Connection to practical resources: State and national resources; materials; recommended books, videos, websites, on a variety of topics from Deaf culture to language development, from bullying concerns to learning to swim and to drive.

• Regional events, access to other families, access to deaf/hh adults, educational workshops

• Advocacy for families, IFSP and IEP development, Special Education law information, navigating your community.

• Coordinators specifically for parents who are Spanish-speaking, and for families who have kids with unilateral hearing loss, “deaf plus” considerations like autism, Down syndrome and more.

• An experienced parent who can support you in understanding the unique needs of your child in the context of your family in this often unexpected journey.

Through the support of generous donors, businesses and our HRSA Grant, services from the GBYS program are free. Reach out to us anytime from the time you learn your child has a hearing difference through age 18.