Learning American Sign Language
Did you know that BC Family Hearing Resource Society has a number of opportunities available to learn American Sign Language (ASL)? Whether your family is pursuing ASL as a first language for your child, a second language as part of a bilingual approach to language development or learning signs to support your child’s spoken language development, there are a number of opportunities available to you.
Individual ASL Instruction
BC Family Hearing Resource Society has a number of Sign Language Consultants on staff who have a wealth of experience teaching ASL to parents of young deaf and hard of hearing children. Our consultants not only come alongside parents in their journey to learn sign language, but they also serve as positive deaf and hard of hearing role models/mentors for children. For our Vancouver Island families, we contract local Sign Language Consultants through the Island Deaf and Hard of Hearing Centre. All of our instructors are available to meet with families on a 1-to-1 basis, online or in-person, and the frequency of these sessions can vary from family to family. Extended family members are welcome to join these sessions.
Part of Your Team
For families who choose to engage in ASL services, your Sign Language Consultant is an important member of your early intervention team. As such, they are involved in IFSP meetings, provide consultation to childcare providers, sometimes travel to outreach communities, and participate in assessments when appropriate.
As part of their role, our Sign Language Consultants also serve as Deaf and Hard of Hearing Role Models, and are involved in cofacilitating our groups, family events, and workshops.
Group Classes
Families also have the option of learning in an online group class environment. These classes are offered free of charge to all of our families, and offer the opportunity to learn alongside other parents and caregivers of deaf and hard of hearing children. These classes for available for a fee to anyone else wishing to build their ASL skills.
Our ASL classes provide an opportunity for parents to learn a visual language as a group, appropriate for their children at their stage of development. It also offers parents the chance to get to know one another in an environment with shared goals. These sessions are open to other family and community members if space is welcome.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Role Models
At BCFHRS, we are proud to have many Deaf and Hard of Hearing Role Models on staff.
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