Miss-Delectable
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S. Fla. Program Helps Deaf Communicate Again - cbs4.com
For millions of deaf Americans, it's often hard to find federal and state support programs. Part of the reason is national statistics are limited and inaccurate because census counts ignore the deaf as a separate category. But one South Florida program is helping hearing impaired children and their families communicate; and the best part is that it's free.
Eight-month-old Owen Vaughan is your typical bouncing baby boy. He squeals with joy, loves spending time with his mom and is glued to everything you flash in front of him. But Owen is far from typical.
"When Owen was born at Memorial Regional Hospital; he had a newborn hearing test which every baby does and he failed it," said his mom Melissa Vaughan.
She said shortly after her son's birth, he was diagnosed with hearing loss. Owen got his hearing aids at 4-months-old.
"At this point he responds to his name. He responds to phones ringing, environmental noises, to the doorbell, the telephone and airplanes overhead," added his mother.
Owen and his mom are now learning another way to communicate through sign language thanks to the Deaf Family Literacy Academy a free program created by Volunteer USA.
"We have deaf mentors who come into the home once a week for two hours. They work with the parents as well as the children. They bring books into the home and teach the parents how to read those books to the children," said Jennifer Jones, Director of the Deaf Family Literacy Academy (DFLA).
The mentors, who are mostly deaf, work with hearing impaired children from birth to 12 years old. And parents are encouraged to get hearing impaired children in the program sooner rather than later.
"Research shows that babies that are exposed to American sign language early on in the first few months of life that are consistently exposed to ASL they start signing anywhere from 9-months to 12-months-old," Jones added.
Since starting the program, Melissa said Owen is making great progress.
"We've learned everyday basic signs things like milk, bath time all the signs that are relevant to his life" she said.
Mom seems most thankful for how she's bonding with her baby.
"When you have someone coming into your home interacting with you and also showing you how to interact with your child, how to read a book to your child in ASL, how to sign to your child, how to get your child's attention, it's a phenomenal program" said Vaughn.
Thanks to funding from various organizations the Deaf Family Literacy Academy will now be offering these same services to families in Miami-Dade County.
For millions of deaf Americans, it's often hard to find federal and state support programs. Part of the reason is national statistics are limited and inaccurate because census counts ignore the deaf as a separate category. But one South Florida program is helping hearing impaired children and their families communicate; and the best part is that it's free.
Eight-month-old Owen Vaughan is your typical bouncing baby boy. He squeals with joy, loves spending time with his mom and is glued to everything you flash in front of him. But Owen is far from typical.
"When Owen was born at Memorial Regional Hospital; he had a newborn hearing test which every baby does and he failed it," said his mom Melissa Vaughan.
She said shortly after her son's birth, he was diagnosed with hearing loss. Owen got his hearing aids at 4-months-old.
"At this point he responds to his name. He responds to phones ringing, environmental noises, to the doorbell, the telephone and airplanes overhead," added his mother.
Owen and his mom are now learning another way to communicate through sign language thanks to the Deaf Family Literacy Academy a free program created by Volunteer USA.
"We have deaf mentors who come into the home once a week for two hours. They work with the parents as well as the children. They bring books into the home and teach the parents how to read those books to the children," said Jennifer Jones, Director of the Deaf Family Literacy Academy (DFLA).
The mentors, who are mostly deaf, work with hearing impaired children from birth to 12 years old. And parents are encouraged to get hearing impaired children in the program sooner rather than later.
"Research shows that babies that are exposed to American sign language early on in the first few months of life that are consistently exposed to ASL they start signing anywhere from 9-months to 12-months-old," Jones added.
Since starting the program, Melissa said Owen is making great progress.
"We've learned everyday basic signs things like milk, bath time all the signs that are relevant to his life" she said.
Mom seems most thankful for how she's bonding with her baby.
"When you have someone coming into your home interacting with you and also showing you how to interact with your child, how to read a book to your child in ASL, how to sign to your child, how to get your child's attention, it's a phenomenal program" said Vaughn.
Thanks to funding from various organizations the Deaf Family Literacy Academy will now be offering these same services to families in Miami-Dade County.