Family Resources
Where can I go to talk to other families raising children with a hearing loss?

The Family Leadership in Language and Learning Project of Hands & Voices is here to support you.

Contacts for Early Hearing Detection & Intervention by state.

Hands & Voices is a non-profit, parent-driven organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. We are unbiased about communication methodologies and believe that families can make the best choices for their child if they have access to good information and support.

The Alexander Graham Bell Association works globally to support the development of hearing and speaking (spoken language) in individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The organization provides information, training, support, and resources to guide families.

Every state and territory in the US has a program called "Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI)." Your state EHDI program can be a helpful support to you in identifying local resources. The state EHDI program supports families in identifying hearing loss early, linking families with appropriate interventions, and tracking information about effectiveness of the statewide program. Each EHDI program has a statewide coordinator.

The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is committed to empowering diverse families with deaf children and youth by embracing full access to language-rich environments through mentoring, advocacy, resources, and collaborative networks. This network promotes full access to language and communication opportunities through American Sign Language.

The Parent to Parent USA mission is to support a national network of Parent to Parent programs to ensure access to quality emotional support for families of individuals with disabilities and/or special health care needs.

Family Voices is a national family-led organization of families and friends of children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and disabilities. We connect a network of family organizations across the United States that provide support to families of CYSHCN. We promote partnership with families at all levels of health care–individual and policy decision-making levels—in order to improve health care services and policies for children.

This website was created by professionals from the Center for Childhood Deafness, Language and Learning and the Center for Audiology at Boys Town National Research Hospital (original funding was from the National Institutes of Health). The purpose is to provide information and guidance to families following newborn hearing screening and identification of an infant as deaf or hard of hearing. The parenting section contains many contributions from parents.

Hearing First supports families to ensure their child who is deaf or hard of hearing has opportunities to reach their full potential through listening and spoken language. We offer families learning opportunities, timely resources, and parent-to-parent support during the critical early days and along their journey raising their child.

The CARE Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing hope to families who have children and/or adults with hearing challenges through counseling experiences aimed at the processing of the emotional stages of grief.

This is a page to help families understand their rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), connect with other families, and find high-quality resources related to caring for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities.

Information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP), and Individual Education Plan (IEP).

"Each state may have a variety of ways to learn more about the experiences of other families. There are many ways to find local organizations for support: through your early intervention provider, your primary care physician, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) provider, audiologist or local family support organization. These resources may vary by state. See the Hands & Voices Family Leadership in Language and Learning webpage to help locate an organization in your state/territory who provides support to families who have children identified with a hearing loss."

Click on this link to see three short videos of parents talking about strategies they used when learning about the diagnosis for their child.

Click on this link to see short videos of parents talking about their experices making decisions after learning about the diagnosis for their child.

Click on this link to see short videos of parents providing their insight, experiences and parent advice on many childhood topics.

Click on this link to see short videos of parents talking about how they view their successes and celebrating the journey.

Click on this link to see short videos of parents talking about following their child's lead, resolving their fears and expectations they have for their child.

ASTra is a replicable Deaf and Hard of Hearing Educational Advocacy Program that embodies the mission and vision of Hands & Voices, which is to provide support to families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

More about self-advocacy for deaf and hard of hearing students.

This page has links to dozens of articles, free books and newsletters, and other resources.

Information and articles for school-aged children with hearing loss.