Difficulty: Moderately Challenging
Step1
Find a local parent support group for families with deaf children. Contact your local early intervention program, your school district, your state school for the deaf (if available in your state) or local deaf agencies that serve deaf and hard of hearing individuals. Some states have a "Guide By Your Side" program that pairs an experienced, trained parent with a parent of a newly-diagnosed child.
Step2
Contact a national parent organization serving families with deaf and hard of hearing children such as Hands & Voices, American Society for Deaf Children and the Alexander Graham Bell Association. The resources for these organization are listed below. States may also have statewide chapters or parent groups.
Step3
Locate families with deaf children in your community or a nearby town and arrange for get togethers or play dates.
Step4
Connect with a deaf or hard of hearing adult who can mentor the family and provide answers to questions unique to deaf and hard of hearing individuals. A deaf mentor can also model the family's chosen method of communication and work to help the family develop communication skills with the deaf child.
Step5
Seek out professionals with a varied background of experience with deaf children. The more varied the background experience is, the higher the chances that you can get professional advice that is appropriate for the family seeking support.
Step6
Look for information that is unbiased and make decisions that are right for your child and your family. Every deaf child is different and what works for one may not be what works for another.
