PSD deeply values the partnership between families and our school community in supporting the growth and development of deaf and hard of hearing children. We recognize that families play a pivotal role in student success, influencing achievement in meaningful ways. To ensure a positive experience, we actively encourage ongoing communication and collaboration with families, welcoming their input, feedback, and perspectives. PSD offers a range of resources and support for families of deaf and hard of hearing children, from birth through age 22. Our Family Resource Center is dedicated to facilitating these initiatives and supporting families every step of the way.

For more information on how PSD works with families or PSD’s Family Resource Center, you can email info@psd.org for more information.

Family Resource Center

Our goal is to connect families with national, state and local resources on raising a child with hearing loss, as well as information about language learning opportunities for their deaf or hard of hearing child. The Family Resource Center (FRC) programs are designed to engage families and caregivers in their deaf or hard of hearing child’s education, including activities that support language development in both ASL and the family’s spoken language such as English or Spanish. Our activities includes:

• Shared Reading Project: a literacy-based program to teach families how to read with their deaf or hard of hearing child
• Family American Sign Language (ASL) classes
• Family conferences every year
• Family events at local museums, libraries, and local venues in Philadelphia
• Family Education Series: an online resource with videos covering topics such as how to prepare for an IEP meeting, emergency preparedness for families with children with disabilities, how to support communication and language acquisition at home, family rights, and advocacy.

Family Support

PSD facilitates two Parent support groups: one is for hearing parents of young deaf and hard of hearing children, and the other group is for Deaf parents with young hearing children. Each group has two 12-week cycles. Anyone from the PSD community can join. Transportation, childcare and refreshments are provided for each meeting. Both groups have discussions about various topics related to child development, family dynamics, community resources and other issues. The Saturday group goes on community outings approximately one-a-month to places such as the Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum and Linvilla Orchard. A Spanish language interpreter is also present at the Saturday group.

Sign + Play

Our “Sign + Play” classes offers families a signing playgroup for their infant or toddler

• Learn ASL to communicate with your little one!
• Learn fun ASL rhymes!
• Bond with your child!

Our classes are fun and interactive for families and their deaf/hard of hearing babies/toddlers. They will learn daily-routine based signs, ASL rhymes and engage in fun activities that promote bonding and support their child’s social-emotional and language development.

*Even if your child is not deaf or hard of hearing, you are still welcome to join us!*

ASL Classes

PSD offers family sign classes to meet the needs and schedules of busy families. These classes are held on campus. Every PSD family member is invited to participate! The sessions are taught in six (6) week sessions throughout the year and five (5) weeks in the summer. The content of the course is intended to boost useful communication and language between the family and their deaf or hard of hearing child. Activities are designed to promote interactive exchanges in class and at home. We welcome families (including extended families and other people involved in the lives of our students) to join us for any sessions held throughout the year.

Family Beginner ASL Classes

Our ASL Classes are FREE for families with a child who is enrolled at PSD. Community members are welcome to join us.

Our in-person ASL classes are family-centered and family-friendly: you will learn ASL and daily-routine based vocabulary and phrases in order to best communicate with your deaf and hard of hearing children at home and in the community. Classes include games and hands-on activities!

We also offer ASL classes on Zoom for PSD families that live outside Philadelphia.