Deaf Plus
Learn about news and events in Southern California here, Deaf Events in Los Angeles
LANTERMAN ACT:
California law gives people with developmental disabilities the right to services and support they need and choose to live independent and productive lives.
- A Consumer’s Guide to the Lanterman Act – English
- Una Guía para el Consumidor Del Acta Lanterman – Spanish
- To see the full law: Lanterman Act and Related Laws – CA Department of Developmental Services
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES (DDS)
Under the Lanterman Act, DDS oversees the coordination and delivery of services and supports Californians with developmental disabilities through a network of 21 regional centers and state-operated facilities. DDS works to ensure Californians with developmental disabilities have an opportunity to lead independent, productive lives in their community of choice.
STATE COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES (SCDD)
SCDD is established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to plan for and ensure that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need.
REGIONAL CENTERS:
Regional Centers coordinate services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities through each person’s Individual Program Plan (IPP). The Regional Centers provide assessments, determine eligibility for services, and offer case management services.
EARLY CHILDHOOD HEARING DETECTION AND INTERVENTION:
- Early Childhood Hearing Screening | NCHAM
- LEAD-K Family Services – Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Early Start Referrals
EARLY START (EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM) FOR DEAF+ CHILDREN UNDER AGE 3:
- Information about Early Start
- Early Start Standardized Information Packet by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS)
- Early Start Information Packet – English
- Paquete de Información Sobre – Spanish
SPECIAL EDUCATION FOR DEAF+ STUDENTS (AGE 3-21):
- Special Education Rights and Responsibilities
- Parents’ Rights – Quality Assurance Process (CA Dept of Education)
- Language Milestones for Deaf and hard of hearing children age 0 – 5
- Deaf education
- IEP Basics
- Transition Basics
EDUCATION LAWS FROM THE NATIONAL ASSOICATION OF THE DEAF:
- Bill of Rights for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
- Section 504 and ADA Obligations of Public Schools
- Other Educational Opportunities & ADA Obligations of Private Schools, Classes, or Programs
- K-12 Education – Additional Resources
PARENT NETWORK OF SUPPORT:
- California Hands & Voices – A parent-driven organization for families with children who D/HH by providing resources, networks, and information to improve communication access and educational outcomes
- Deaf Latinos y Families – Provides resources and ASL classes to Latino/a/x families and guide them through the process of adapting the Deaf Culture and ASL into their lives
FAMILY, EDUCATION, AND ADVOCACY SERVICES:
- Language and Equality Acquisition for Deaf Kids – Statewide Family Services
- California Department of Education – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Division
- Frequently Asked Questions on Effective Communication – for students with hearing, vision, and communication disabilities in public schools.
- Communication Plan for D/HH Learners – for use in IEP plans and meetings
- Department of Rehabilitation – Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
- California Deaf and Disabled Telecommunications Programs – offers free, specialized phones for those who have difficulty using the telephone.
- Hearing Aid and Cochlear Implant Assistance Programs – A list of organizations that may offer financial assistance toward the purchases of hearing aids.
- Deaf Events in Los Angeles – to learn about news and events in Southern California
- Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD) – is a non-profit advocacy agency that provides social services for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Late-Deafened.
- Supporting Success for Children with hearing loss – aims to make resources and practical information readily available to the public.
- John Tracy Center – provides education programs for children (age birth to 5) residing in Southern California.
- Hear to Learn – offers resources for parents and professionals to better understand spoken language development in D/HH children.
- Ear Community – provides a supportive community for individuals born with Microtia and Atresia, Treacher Collins Syndrome, and Goldenhar Syndrome.
- Helen Keller National Center – for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults
- National Association of the Deaf – is the nation’s premier civil rights organization of, by and for the deaf and hard of hearing individuals in the United States.
- What is Deaf-Plus?
- Sign Language Use for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing Babies: The Evidence Supports It – English | Spanish
- Family Involvement in ASL Acquisition
- Determining Language and Inclusion for Deaf-Plus Children
DEAF 101:
Deaf 101 – Learning modules to understand more about diversity within the Deaf Community and working with individuals to create accessible environments.
Deaf Interpreter, Sign Language Interpreter – What’s the Difference? Learn about the important role of a Deaf interpreter
LEARNING AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE (ASL):
Learning American Sign Language (ASL) requires time, patience, practice, and a sense of humor. If you are a parent of a newly identified child who is deaf or hard of hearing, you can request ASL instruction from your child’s early intervention system. Early intervention systems are designed to help your child develop in all areas and to provide services to families so they can support their child. More information is available at Sign Language for Parents.
Individual signs are relatively easy to learn. Like any spoken language, ASL has its own unique rules of grammar and syntax. It can take a year or more to learn enough signs for basic communication and to sign them comfortably. Some people pick up signs more slowly than others, and if that is the case for you, don’t be discouraged. Everyone learns sign language at their own speed. Be patient, and you will succeed in learning the language. The rewards will be well worth the effort!
You can start learning ASL by attending a sign language class offered by organizations, companies, community colleges, or universities. You can also expand your knowledge of ASL by practicing your signs with people who are deaf or hard of hearing and also know ASL. Generally, people who know ASL are patient about showing new signers how to sign different things, the correct way to sign something, and they will usually slow down their signing so that you can understand them too. They are also willing to repeat words or statements if you do not understand them the first (or even the second) time.
ASL is a visual language. With signing, the brain processes linguistic information through the eyes, and facial expressions and body movements play an important part in conveying information. It is possible to sign without using facial expressions or body movements, but doing so may convey a mixed message, be confusing, or be misunderstood. It will also look odd or unnatural to native signers.
Sign language is not a universal language—each country has its own sign language, and regions have dialects, much like the many languages spoken all over the world. If you were to travel to another state and have an opportunity to sign with a person who knows ASL, you may notice that they use some signs differently than you. These signs are known as “regional” signs, and you can think of them as the equivalent of an “accent.” It does not mean that people in your state are signing incorrectly. It is just a normal variation in ASL, and such regional signs add flavor to your understanding of ASL.
When you don’t know the sign for something, spell the word or words (called “fingerspelling”). When you discover there is no sign for a word, you should not invent or make up a new sign. Doing so may violate the grammatical rules of ASL or may be unintentionally offensive.
Speed is not crucial in sign language. It is more important to sign clearly, even if you have to do it at a slower pace. When people often ask you to repeat yourself, it is a signal that you should slow down and try to sign as clearly as possible. Do not feel embarrassed if you sign slowly. It is important to get your message across, to connect with another person, and to be understood. There are no shortcuts to effective communication.
Enjoy the journey of learning ASL!
- Deaf Latinos Y Familias Organization
- Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness
- The ASL Shop
- American Sign Language (ASL) Resources for Spanish Speaker
- ¡Dígalo en señas!
- VL2 Storybook Apps
- Hands Land
- National Deaf Center
- American Society for Deaf Children
- My Signing Time
- ASL Connect
- ASL Deafined
- More ASL Apps
MORE INFORMATION:
- Families & Caregivers of DeafPlus Individuals – English/ASL
- Families & Caregivers of DeafPlus Individuals – Spanish
- Tips for Mental Health Providers serving DeafPlus Patients