Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Resources In Virginia
Below I’ve gathered some of the programs developed to support deaf and hard of hearing kids and families in Virginia. There are links to websites, but the real help begins when you directly connect with someone in one of these programs. I’ve found my best navigation recommendations and overall support has come from the people who’ve helped me connect dots and really understand the needs of Charlotte as a deaf and hard of hearing human.
In short, don’t waste time trying to understand hearing loss on your own.
call, connect and CReate a beautiful life for your child.
1-3-6 Family Educator Program
My baby failed their hearing screening. Now what should I do?
It’s important to get your child re-screened and have their hearing loss diagnosed by a pediatric audiologist within the first three months of your baby’s life.
This process can be nerve racking and scary. The 1-3-6 Family Educator Program was developed to help parents meet the recommended milestones for their child.
Once your child’s hearing loss has been identified and clarified, you can begin figuring out what’s next for you and your child. Depending on the severity of their hearing loss, there are lots of options you may want to consider.
It’s vital to find resources for children who are deaf/hard of hearing by contacting this Virginia deaf and hard of hearing resource today.
Irene Schmalz, director of the 1-3-6 program, has a deaf and hard of hearing son, Eric Schmalz, who was identified with hearing loss just before his first birthday. Erik is now a thriving adult who loves to play the violin, dance, stargaze, watch the Simpsons and support the Green Bay Packers. After teaching social studies at a public high school for three year, Eric joined the staff at the United States Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C. Passionate about social justice, learning and teaching history and building community, Irene helped her deaf and hard of hearing son find a path to thrive in this world. She can help you too.
Call Irene. She doesn’t just talk the talk, she’s walked the walk.
Center For Family Involvement
Believing people with disabilities should be able to live the lives they want, the Center For Family Involvement in Virginia helps families gain skills as advocates, mentors and leaders to support families, children and young adults with disabilities.
From family to family networking of what it has been like on one’s journey with a disabled child to help planning their child’s services at different stages, parents of children with disabilities and young adults with disabilities can receive emotional, informational and system navigational support through direct service, training, technical assurance, and the sharing of knowledge.
Initiatives The Center For Family Involvement Supports And How You Might Use Them For Your Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Child
Family to Family Network of Virginia
A statewide network of locally based family members trained to provide information, assistance and referrals to care-givers of people with disabilities
Contact them and ask to be connected to another Virginia family that has chosen the type of communication and language you are considering for your deaf and hard of hearing child
IEP Products
A collaborative standards-based Individualized Education Plan (IEP) online training modules and print materials
IEPs are confusing and a must for your deaf and hard of hearing child after they leave the early intervention program. You can read more about my experience to date with developing and advocating for Charlotte’s IEP here
Transition Initiatives
Programs to help children and young adults with disabilities to plan for their post-school future
Virginia is for Siblings!
A program to inspire siblings of people with disabilities to form connections, share experiences, utilize resources, access information and advocate for change
Parent Resource Centers (PRC)
Provide information and training to parents in Virginia so they can be active partners in the education of their children
Facilitate communication, understanding and collaboration between parents and schools by helping families seeking assistance with conflict resolution
Advocate for positive student outcomes
Act to lessen conflict and disputes between parents and schools by helping all parties involved better understand one another
Support teachers seeking information about students receiving special education services and general education assistance with conflict resolution for issues related to special education and resolution about general education issue and assistance with conflict resolution for issues related to special education and resolution about general education issues
Deter contentious litigation by fostering communication and understanding of all sides with the best possible outcome for the student top of mind
Family Engagement Network
supports local communities in their efforts to involve families
Annual Parent Summit
Assists parents in networking and in getting information they need to support youth
Cultural Brokers
Connects with rural and culturally diverse communities across the Commonwealth
funded by
Federal Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Maternal and Child Health Bureau
Virginia Departments of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Education and Health
Early Intervention
The Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia provides early intervention supports and services to infants and toddlers from birth through age two who are not developing as expected or who have a medical condition that can delay normal development.
Early intervention supports and services focus on increasing the child's participation in family and community activities that are important to the family. In addition, supports and services focus on helping parents and other caregivers know how to find ways to help the child learn during everyday activities. These supports and services are available for all eligible children and their families regardless of the family's ability to pay.
While we were unfamiliar with Early Intervention before Charlotte, there is no question this program a huge help to our family. From weekly speech therapy sessions in the comfort of our own home with an Auditory Verbal Therapist (AVT) to Feeding Therapy, I am so thankful to have had access to this support network.
Our private Auditory Verbal Therapist helped us request Speech Therapists who were trained in AVT, and we signed a waiver so they could speak to one another and align what they were working on with Charlotte.
There is a case manager assigned to each family. They do periodic check-ins to make sure you services are helping, see how they might help you and such.
SOAR365
Once we began leveraging Early Intervention, several of our therapists were from the Greater Richmond ARC. They’ve recently rebranded themselves to be SOAR365.
From Pediatric Therapies and Summer Camps to the BEST PLAYGROUND in Richmond, you should see if they can help you and your family.
phone
(804) 358-1874
Location
3600 Saunders Avenue
Richmond, VA 23227
Virginia Chapter of AG Bell
A group that supports Virginians of all ages who are deaf and hard of hearing that choose to pursue the option and outcome of listening and spoken language. I am on the state board and have learned so much from this fun and passionate group of parents, professionals, educators and adults.
We collaborate with the national AG Bell Association, as well as develop state-specific programs that support our choice to ensure successful lives of our deaf and hard of hearing family members, friends, clients and selves.
One of my favorite things we did in 2018 was show a documentary about the lives of aided and implanted deaf and hard of hearing young adults. You can read about that here.
connect
Location
Virtual Group of Professionals and Parents
from All Over Virginia
Hands And Voices Virginia
Virginia Hands & Voices is a group that supports families with children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing . They provide parents with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children no matter the communication mode or methodology the family chooses for their child.
Virginia Hearing Journey
This is a local group that uses networking to support families with kids who are deaf and hard of hearing. I got off FaceBook almost a decade ago, so it hasn’t been one that I’ve been able to take advantage of, but I know several people who have met good connections through it!
Online Resources
http://www.cicircle.org/Home/resources
This is kinda out dated, but also has some good links and blog articles from parents. Content thrives most from like 2006-2009. Last update seems to be 2013.