September is #deafawarenessmonth! Here at Baby Fingers we work to spread awareness of #deafculture and #ASL all year long, but we want to highlight not only the importance of learning #ASL for the #deafcommunity but how much we all have to #learn every day about other cultures. Learning to accept and embrace and welcome and empower and advocate and support is key to being human.
We have a Deaf mom with her hearing kiddo who have been regulars in our classes – mom uses a cochlear implant; 
she speaks and signs, as does her son. Two others who come our classes regularly are Deaf and use various technology. One, with a Deaf mom, uses a hearing aid but language is fully accessible to him via ASL. The other has cochlear implants but lives with a Deaf sister who signs and and a hearing mom who’s learning ASL. Did you know that most deaf babies are born to hearing parents? It’s important to get as much information as you can so you can determine whether or not #technology will be helpful – but it doesn’t rule out sign language. Early access and exposure are key to a strong foundation in #language. At Baby Fingers we can connect you with Deaf mentors, other parents who are Deaf or have a Deaf child, and signing playmates for your little one!
One of the toddlers in our ASL Playgroup, at 19 months, says and signs everything he hears and sees. And then he uses the words and signs again spontaneously in the appropriate contexts. His mom credits his understanding of multiple languages with having introduced ASL as well. Language has been accessible to him from day one – not just because he can hear but truly because the adults in his life have interacted with him face to face, they have engaged with him, and they’ve provided a way for him to respond in kind. There’s more to understanding and acquiring language than just access to sound. Signing together gives you reason to look at each other, provides an opportunity to read lips, models related facial expressions and body language, and so much more.
Many hearing are families looking to jump start language development through sign language – the benefits are truly endless, including learning about another culture and an opportunity to become bilingual. Come #singandsign with us; there’s something for everyone at Baby Fingers!
We have a few spots left in fall classes and more starting in the coming days and weeks. Join us! Details and registration at mybabyfingers.com/local-classes.