Hands & Voices

National organization informs, supports families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Submitted by Leeanne Seaver, M.A., Executive Director of Hands & Voices National

Hands & Voices (H&V) is a national nonprofit organization that supports families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) and the professionals who serve them.

Approximately 35 states nationwide have chapters or are in the startup phase, with activities ranging from advocacy training to social events to statewide conference sponsorship.

H&V national leaders influence policy, develop programs, and work toward the group's goal of improving educational and social outcomes for children who are DHH regardless of how they communicate. H&V leaders sit on nearly two dozen national boards and committees related to deaf education and policy, including the National Deaf/Hard of Hearing Alliance, the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Advisory Board, and the National Deaf Education Project NOW. For a complete list of boards and committees, visit www.handsandvoices.org

Here's a partial list of projects and resources available through H&V:

H&V Website

This resource, www.handsandvoices.org averages 50,000 page requests per month and has an interactive bulletin board for online chats, a calendar of events, a curriculum for parent training and professional development, articles on DHH topics, links to state and national websites, and an online clearinghouse of resource guides.
Supporting Families Without Bias

Nonbiased family support is offered through training of parent guides, parent consultants and chapter leaders, deaf/hard of hearing consumers, and professionals. www.handsandvoices.org/articles/fam_perspectives/wo_bias_V8-2.htm
The H&V Resource Guide

This guide for families includes a Spanish version as well. Look at the broad view of resources or view the Colorado chapter's resource guide that has become the model for many states nationwide at: www.handsandvoices.org/resources/coGuide/01_intro.htm
H&V Guide By Your Side (GBYS)

This program trains parents and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing to provide informed support for families in early intervention and educational systems. In some states, GBYS is the point-of-entry to the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) system, providing peer counseling and emotional support while facilitating the early journey of families with newly identified babies. Arizona, British Columbia, Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Virginia, and Wisconsin currently have programs.
H&V Basic Training and Curricula

Training and development resources for parents and professionals include an educational advocacy series focusing on DHH case law, Special Education Law and Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, plus parenting tips from Is This a Deaf Thing? Our What Do I Say When... workshop helps professionals answer the tough questions parents ask. Topics prepare parents to become more effective advocates for their children and leaders in the DHH service community. View at: www.handsandvoices.org/services/sp_bureau/_basic_train.htm
Deaf Education Reform Website

An H&V-sponsored website www.ndepnow.org supports deaf education reform via the National Deaf Education Project, led by Lawrence Siegel, JD. This site lists states that have a Deaf Child's Bill of Rights, or other legislation or policy focused on improving educational programs for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
A is for Access: Creating and Implementing Full and Effective Communication Access for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

This H&V-produced DVD describes the unique communication needs of and special considerations for the DHH student population. It looks at all modes and methods to see how they should be accommodated in educational settings and looks at special education law and the definition of full and effective communication access. H&V is working on a companion guidebook. The DVD can be purchased from H&V, or from Butte Publications: www.handsandvoices.org/resources/products.htm
H&V's newspaper, The Communicator

More than 3,000 people nationwide receive this quarterly journal that has included interviews with Marlee Matlin, Henry Kisor, Marc Marschark, and Christie Smith from Survivor. The Communicator featured the first published interview with Dr. Brenda Schick on her Cognition in the Classroom research; a report on the first national summit on deaf education reform; and an article on the latest legislation from IDEA Reauthorizations.
National Parent Database

State chapters have developed/are developing electronic parent databases with software provided by H&V to communicate via an internet "e-tree" with parents nationwide on current issues and news.
Communication Considerations A to Z™

An informative web page and links to (almost) everything you wanted to know about the implications of hearing loss from experts in the field. It includes information about communication choices, issues and impacts, modeling professional collaboration, plus it passes the "sniff test" for equitable presentation of the material.

Join Today!

Hands & Voices members stay current with trends in education, research, instructional practice, and legal mandates related to deaf education and join a national community of supportive parents. Members have access to experts in the fields of early identification and intervention, healthcare systems, multiple labels, family support, education, communication methodology & modality, new technologies, hearing aids & cochlear implants, Deaf community and culture, and more via a national H&V network.

Membership dues are determined by your local state chapter. For more information go to: www.handsandvoices.org/services/join.htm

Questions? Click here to find your state contact.