As a parent, you want what’s best for your child.
You want them to feel confident, connected, and ready to explore the world around them. At Language First, we understand that language is at the heart of every child’s growth, and that for Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children, early access to rich, meaningful communication is life-changing.
We’re here to guide and support you on this journey. Through resources, family-centered programs, and expert guidance, we help you give your child the strong language foundation they need to thrive.
From the very first signs to building a confident communicator, our goal is to empower your child and your family, every step of the way.
LANGUAGE FIRST PARENT GUIDE
The Language First Parent Guide is a comprehensive 46-page resource designed to support families of Deaf and hard of hearing (DHH) children at every stage of their journey. Inside, parents will find a wealth of evidence-based information, practical tips, and actionable strategies to help them confidently navigate the unique challenges and opportunities that come with raising a DHH child. The guide covers essential topics such as early language development, communication options, building a strong language foundation, and fostering meaningful connections at home and in the community. By providing families with clear, research-informed guidance, the guide empowers parents to actively support their child’s growth, advocate for their needs, and create a language-rich environment where their child can thrive.
How do I expose my child to ASL?
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ASL for Parents
We hold monthly sessions over Zoom to teach parents signs related to the next month! For example, at the end of January, you will learn signs related to February (Valentine’s Day, Black history, etc.) so that you can use them with your child. Sessions are held late in the evening, after your kids have gone to bed. They are held in ASL with one of our Deaf team members and no interpreters. Click the button below to see the full schedule for 2025, including the topics for each month as well as the Zoom link to join the session.
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ASL Read Alouds
Each month we hold read alouds in ASL over Zoom. Books are shared virtually via Epic and signed in ASL by one of our Deaf team members. Click the button below to see the full schedule for 2024 and 2025, including which two books will be read each month as well as the Zoom link to join the read aloud. Please note that read alouds cannot be recorded due to Epic copyright laws.
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ASL Stories Directory
This is a collection of hundreds of free videos of ASL retellings of your child’s favorite books, from the American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC).
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Common ASL Phrases
We asked hearing parents what they said most often to their Deaf children and wanted to know how to say in ASL. Here is a list of the top ten and how to sign them!
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Deaf Mentor Programs
This is a list of Deaf/Hard of Hearing Adult Involvement Programs by state, organized by National Center for Hearing Assessment and Management at Utah State University.
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Five Free ASL Sessions
We choose 3-5 families each quarter (March, June, September, December), and you may enter as many times as you’d like. Sessions are held virtually through SignOn and ASDC.
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Foundation of Language
In this video series by the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing, you will learn strategies for best practices to interact with your Deaf child during your everyday routines to help them learn language and emerging literacy.
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Language for Little Ones
Check out our videos in ASL made to help expand the language of Deaf and hard of hearing children ages 0-5.
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Resources for Learning ASL
This is a list of hyperlinked resources for learning ASL, both for you as a parent and for your child! Check back often as new ones are added frequently.
Parent Power
Strong advocacy begins with informed parents.
Handouts
Browse free handouts, infographics, and resources related to ASL/English bilingualism and language development in Deaf children.
Early Access. Early Connection. Early Language Center.
How do I bring bimodal bilingualism into my home?
Strategies
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Learn techniques for building your child’s language with our friends at ASL at Home.
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Learn strategies for implementing bimodal bilingualism at home.
Literacy
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This is a growing list of children’s books that all feature signing Deaf characters, with information about whether the author is Deaf, a CODA, or an interpreter. Each title links to that book on Amazon. Check back often as new books are added.
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Reading Involves Shared Experiences (RISE) is a free resource of videobooks signed by Deaf signers. Created by Dr. Donna Jo Napoli and Dr. Gene Mirus, it has more than 130 stories in over 30 sign languages with text and illustrations.
Fun
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This is a growing list of wordless picture books that are great for targeting language with your Deaf child! Wordless picture books can be used to help teach a child about the structure and sequence of a book, as well as preliteracy skills such as book orientation and page-turning, without the pressure of reading exactly what is on the page.
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This is a growing list of wordless short films that are great for targeting language with your Deaf child! Wordless short films can be used to help teach a Deaf child about the structure and sequence of a story without the confounding variable of listening.
We are so excited to have collaborated with The Clerc Center to create a list of camps for Deaf children by state. Use the interactive map to click on your state and find a camp that fits your child’s interests and needs!
Deaf Camps
Facebook groups
We have two Facebook group for parents of Deaf and hard of hearing children looking for resources and support from other parents using an ASL-English bilingual approach with their child.