Advocacy
Navigating the journey as a parent or caregiver of a child with hearing loss can be isolating and overwhelming, especially as your child grows and transitions into the new and unknown. Our resources help you prepare to navigate these transitions smoothly, whether your child is entering kindergarten or going to graduate school.
Parents of children with newly diagnosed hearing loss often need help knowing their rights and navigating the Early Hearing Detection & Intervention System, Early Intervention programs, and educational systems designed to support children with disabilities.
Advocacy Roadmap
Reality in the absence of education, preparation, and guidance.
Without the appropriate education, preparation, and guidance, advocating for your child’s hearing loss can feel frustrating and confusing.
At CANGD, our team of advanced advocates has more than 30 years of experience supporting parents and caregivers who are working with early intervention systems, schools, and other providers to ensure their child’s unique needs and language acquisition, communication development, and effective communication access services are appropriate, while protecting other rights afforded to children who are deaf/hard of hearing.
Our team has dedicated over 10,000 hours to advocacy support, consultations, education workshops, and presentations educating parents, caregivers, professionals, and medical personnel at all levels.
Reality when parent has received education and guidance, and is prepared.
Understanding your rights and seeking support from the right professionals can make advocating for your child a smoother experience.
Deafness and hearing loss do not have to limit your original hopes or your child’s dreams.
We can help guide you as you begin this journey.
Early Intervention
When your child does not pass newborn hearing screening or is diagnosed with hearing loss, it is overwhelming to search and find resources to educate yourself about the journey that you and your child are about to embark upon together – from newborn hearing screening, getting a correct diagnosis, deciding how to communicate, raising a child with hearing loss, navigating Early Intervention, and so on.
We are here to support your efforts and provide a place where you can easily find resources.
Advocacy In Schools
Families with children who have hearing loss between the ages of 3 to 21 often face challenges with education and schools. For some families, a child may be late-identified or has progressive hearing loss that was diagnosed by a hearing screening at the school. For others, a child may be struggling academically because their hearing loss was not diagnosed or appropriately supported. For others, a child may have been diagnosed with hearing loss as an infant and received Early Intervention support and services, but is faced with a school that does not want to continue appropriate services, supports, or accommodations.
In all of these situations, our team is a resource for families who are navigating this journey with their child in the school system and throughout the educational life cycle – transitioning from early childhood to elementary to middle and high school education and later, into adulthood.
Advocacy Resources, Consulting, & Support (ARCS)
If you are unsure how to advocate for your or your child’s needs, need help documenting the choices and supports you or your child require, or need assistance navigating school, work, healthcare, or other challenges, we are here for you.
We understand the IEP and Section 504 processes, drafting documentation to support your child’s hearing loss-related needs, and overcoming barriers to secure appropriate services and inclusion. We know what it feels like to feel like you don’t have choices, and we’re here to remind you that you always have choices. We’re here to help you find them.