Sometimes I wonder what it is like to parent a hearing child. If I ever have a hearing child, I will certainly need information, help, and community support.
Discussion Groups for Deaf Parents
It is good to know that that support is already available via the internet. For support, there is the discussion list
deaf_parents. Another Yahoo group is the
Deafparenting list.
Busy deaf parents of hearing children who don't have the time for a discussion list, can participate in an active Deaf Parents of Hearing Children message board at ParentsPlace.com (under Special Needs).
Organizations for Deaf Parents
There is also a network of parent organizations. The organizations
KODA (Kids of Deaf Adults) and
(Children of Deaf Adults) provide a listing of these organizations. The groups provide social activities for hearing children of deaf parents as well as peer support for the parents.
Literature for Deaf Parents
Thomas Bull, a hearing child of deaf parents, is the author of "On the Edge of Deaf Culture: Hearing Children/Deaf Parents, Annotated Bibliography" and frequently writes on the topic of deaf parents with hearing children. In addition, the Gallaudet University library offers guidelines for searching for more information on the subject of deaf parents parenting hearing children, in its
Deaf Parents of Hearing Children Pathfinder. In addition, Information to Go has a
short listing of books written by hearing children of deaf parents. Other books include Myron Uhlberg's books
Dad, Jackie and Me, and
The Printer.
Articles on Deaf Parents
The Fall 1990 issue of
Gallaudet Today magazine had an article, "The ties that bind: Hearing children and deaf parents talk about being a family." A decade later, the Fall 2000 issue of
Gallaudet Today magazine also had an article, "The CODA connection: Do your parents know Braille?"
Camps for Hearing Children with Deaf Parents
There are also camps for hearing children of deaf parents. One such camp is
CampMark7, which offers sessions for both deaf children and hearing children. Other deaf camps are also welcoming hearing children with deaf parents.
Academic Research on Deaf Parents
Some research on deaf parents with hearing children - particularly with regard to language development - has been done. The
American Annals of the Deaf often publishes studies of deaf parents raising hearing children. Another journal, the Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, also publishes articles, such as the Summer 2000 issue article, "Deaf parents and their hearing children."
Deaf Parenting Websites?
There already are plenty of web sites with advice on raising deaf children. What I would like to see is a web site with advice, questions, and answers for deaf parents on how to raise hearing children.
