Distance Learning for Parents:

Courses Overview

Baby Course

The Baby Course offered in John Tracy Clinic’s Distance Learning for Parents of Young Children with Hearing Loss is available in English and Spanish.  It consists of ten lessons with information about families, deafness, child development and communication. The Course is designed for parents to enjoy with their children under age two. Families choose their own pace but may take 6-12 months to complete as the baby grows in language skills.  The Course is provided at no charge to parents.

Communication begins at infancy. The lessons discuss the stages of language development including looking and listening, responding and initiating, exploring and expressing. Each lesson discusses communication, development, language building and learning through play. The material is designed to encourage parent-child activities and communication.  The Course can be adapted to a child’s interest and skill level and be used with any language including sign language but the emphasis is on spoken language and listening.

Preschool Course

The Preschool Course in Distance Learning for Parents of Young Children with Hearing Loss is available in English and Spanish.  It consists of ten developmental lessons with a focus on communication skills. The Course is designed for parents to use with their child between the ages of two to five.  Families can choose their own pace but may take a year to use all the activities.  The Course is offered free-of-charge to parents.

Communication is a part of development, not a separate, unrelated skill to be learned.  Each lesson addresses the overall growth of a child and includes information on communication, thinking, motor and social development.  Activities are suggested to encourage auditory learning and language skills through enjoyable tasks and games.  The lessons emphasize spoken language but can be adapted for any language including sign.

Course for Child with Vision and Hearing Loss

The Distance Learning for Parents Course about children with vision and hearing loss is available in English and Spanish.  The twelve lessons emphasize family relationships, early childhood deaf-blindness and ways of communicating. The Course includes a series of Learning Steps in seven areas of development. Through initial information provided by the parent, an individual lesson is assembled to meet the needs of each family. Depending on the ability and age of each child the Course can take up to two years to complete.

The Course is designed to facilitate child communication and foster family understanding of multiple sensory challenges.  Each Lesson discusses hearing, communication, social independence and self-help skills.  Multiple topics to provide parents with reassurance range from toys to future goals, discipline to self esteem, and child characteristics to community resources.  The focus is on providing ample advice to increase parent confidence in teaching children with vision and hearing loss how to demonstrate their many skills.

Concerns

Everything parents feel and do contributes to their child’s development.  The Course includes discussions of the many concerns and multiple capabilities of parents.  Families need information to understand hearing loss and ideas for how to best begin encouraging their child’s early communication.  With insight and instruction, parents can help their child to learn and grow!  The Course is designed to be interactive and provide parents with personalized support.

Correspondence

Parents are asked to send reports when they finish each lesson. Families can respond by checking off changes, writing out concerns or responding to questions.  All responses can be sent through the web or by regular mail. When a report is received, the next lesson is immediately available online or can be sent via mail.  A personal letter is then written to discuss the child’s progress. Correspondence provides parents with individualized answers and assurance. Families may enroll immediately through the JTC website or fax or mail enrollment forms. If families want more information before enrolling the Answers section provides further details.

John Tracy Clinic’s mission is to provide hope, guidance and encouragement to parents of young children with hearing loss.