The Incredible Need...
The average reading level of a deaf adult has been only third grade. It is alarming to realize that so many Deaf or Hard of Hearing children are entering school without the ability to communicate effectively, and those communication difficulties are continuing into adulthood. What is even more disturbing is the fact that traditional preschools and childcare centers provide little or no curriculum or activities that would be suitable for a Deaf child’s unique needs. This puts these Deaf and Hard of Hearing children at a higher risk than their hearing counterparts because they have no other place to go. Happy Hands offers exactly what these children need.
Statistics show that 99 out of 100 deaf children are born to hearing parents . Even with today’s advancements in hearing tests for infants, many parents do not find out about their child's hearing loss until age two. Often they are devastated and overwhelmed by the diagnosis and have no idea where to go, so they put off getting any advice or help. Knowing a child learns seventy-five percent of life’s knowledge by the age of three or four, this delay and lack of services has a profound effect on the child's communication and literacy development. For years Deaf or Hard of Hearing children have entered the first grade functionally illiterate. Studies show that the lost time in development cannot be made up or recouped. If the foundation for success is not properly addressed in the early stages of development (primarily between the ages of birth to three), communication delays and other delays associated with hearing loss can continue into adulthood.
Potential Clients
Research conducted by Dr. Laura Dempsey-Polin (Director for the Tulsa Area Alliance on Disabilities) determined that there are between 800 and 1400 children, under the age of six, with a hearing loss who can benefit from Happy Hands’ services.
In 2001, Tulsa County was home to 47,536 preschool age children. Another 36,023 reside in counties contiguous to Tulsa.
Applying available estimates, it can be expected that anywhere from 143 to 856 children in Tulsa County, and an additional 97 to 580 children in contiguous counties, are appropriate candidates for Happy Hands.
Research is also proving that a visual language is very beneficial to children on the autism spectrum and children with physical and cognitive disabilities that interfere with communication development. Happy Hands’ Total Communication approach to language learning opens doors for these special children as well.