190 support for parents and caregivers
Working together for change
Parents’ groups work on many kinds of projects. They may try
to improve the economic conditions of families, the attitudes of
communities, or the government’s laws and services for deaf children
— all as a way to help their children. To get more resources for their
children, a parents group can:
• find ways to get funding for new projects to help deaf children.
• help parents develop new job skills.
• offer workshops on ways to teach and help their children.
• share information about hearing aids.
• organize sign language
classes.
• bring hearing and deaf
people together.
These mothers learned how
to sew clothing so they could
earn more money, work closer
to home, and spend more time
with their children.
Many parents’ groups work to educate the rest of the community about
deafness. They often work together with people who are deaf. The groups
use workshops, radio programs, newsletters, billboards, street theater,
and posters to help others understand more about deafness.
Some parents’ groups work to improve government programs and laws
for children who are deaf. They contact people in the government, like
the ministers of health and education. They tell them about services their
community needs, or about
laws needed to protect
children who are deaf or
have hearing problems.
They write letters, pass
around petitions, or
organize protests if
government officials do
not improve conditions for
their children.
Helping Children Who Are Deaf (2004)