GLAD’s Family Outreach Advocates work with deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled youth, plus their parents and/or legal guardians, to create positive outcomes and ensure a higher quality of life.
Family Advocacy
Support youth and their parents/legal guardians during interactions with schools and other organizations.
We advocate with families of deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf disabled children (DHH) during meetings, including:
- Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) / Individual Education Plan (IEP) / 504 Plan
- School Meetings
- Regional Centers
We educate about resources and laws that apply to children, such as:
- LEAD-K / AB1836
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Services
- Accompanies parents and/or legal guardians to IEP and IFSP meetings
- Develops relationships and establishes resource networks
- Provides educational workshops
- Refers families to Centers and other programs
Benefits
- Receive one-on-one consultations and assessments
- Increase family’s ability to support child academically
- Connect to other families
- Support group for parents and/or legal guardians
- Learn about rights of DHH children and parents and/or legal guardians
Deaf Coach
Strengthen child’s language development, self-advocacy skills, and family relationships.
We are trained in American Sign Language (ASL) instruction and interaction with DHH children and their families. We work to:
Involve family members in our ASL sessions with the child
Educate families about Deaf Culture and Communities through events, workshops, and resource fairs
Services
- Provide regular support sessions at home, library, and/or our office
- Teach the family how to use ASL in daily routines and activities
- Helps the family understand Deaf culture, including facial expressions, body movement, and visual learning importance
- Navigate the family into the Deaf community
Benefits
- Build child’s self-advocacy skills
- Provide culture information
- Strengthen family relationships at home
- Support group for children and youth to connect
- Support child’s language development
