Writing for a Cause: A Website to Prepare Deaf Children for Kindergarten Using ASL

I didn’t know when my grandson James was born four years ago that his birth would lead me to a cause—a website to teach deaf and hard-of-hearing children American Sign Language (ASL).

At first James’ family just worried about him being able to survive. He was born with a congenital deformity called atresia-microtia. His left ear was very small and underdeveloped and the external ear canal was missing. He had trouble sucking and swallowing, and gained only five ounces his first month. At two months he was close to being diagnosed a “failure to thrive” baby.

Our daughter-in-law Carrie demanded a specialist, and was referred to doctors at Chapel Hill Hospital who treat patients with atresia-microtia. James couldn't hear from his left side. However his right ear heard some sounds and tones. Physical therapy and speech therapy were available to James through the North Carolina Early Intervention program after an official diagnosis.

His mother Carrie stayed at home with James for his first year. Then she decided to work part-time. She found a caretaker who had two deaf teenagers of her own. This woman also cared for two other deaf children. James picked up American Sign Language (ASL) quickly in that environment. He could sign 100 words at 18-months of age.

We were scheduled to visit James on his second birthday. I decided to learn ASL so I could sign with him. I attended ASL classes at the Monrovia Adult School with deaf teacher Sonya Wilson. She not only taught the class ASL, she educated us on Deaf culture and history.

Just recently Sonya asked me if I would support a new website she had been involved in creating—Clerc’s Children. The website’s purpose is to help families teach ASL to their children from infancy to those ready to enter kindergarten. Why? Because ninety percent of deaf children enter kindergarten either with severe delay in language or with little or no language skills.

I immediately thought of writing an article for the online magazine I write for—Associated Content. I worked with Terrylene Sacchetti, the founder and CEO of Clerc’s Children, as I wrote the article to make sure I got the facts straight.

“Still Time to Vote for the Clerc’s Children Website in the Pepsi Refresh Project” was published on Associated Content August 22, 2010. A person can vote for Clerc’s Children once a day through August 31, 2010. The website needs to be in the top ten most-voted-for sites to win the $50,000 grant. The monies will be used to complete the Website features.

I've included links to the Pepsi Refresh Project voters page and three other sites under Links.

f it's not too late, please vote at least once for Clerc's Children on the Pepsi Refresh Project Website.












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