Deaf Education Awareness Foundation

12/15/2021

In February 2020, Hawaii Hears founded the nonprofit arm called Deaf Education Awareness Foundation (D.E.A.F.) with the help of board members, Kari Nunokawa and Karen Stein. Thank you, Kari and Karen for your efforts in creating D.E.A.F. and helping families in Hawaii.

As the director and founder of both Hawaii Hears and Deaf Education Awareness Foundation, it is with gratitude to all of you and to the board members that we have decided to dissolve D.E.A.F. and focus efforts on creating a community resource for parents of children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Thank you for supporting D.E.A.F. over the past 22 months. Whether it was through a Facebook fundraiser, the Healing Hands matching funds donation, a recurring donation, or through Amazon Smile, I really appreciate your help in making a difference in the lives of so many families here in Hawaii.

All remaining funds from D.E.A.F. will be rolled into our next program called the Bridging The Gap Community. A virtual community guiding and supporting families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing to make confident and informed decisions so that their child has opportunities to grow and learn.

Please follow and for future programs and resources for families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Visit the link in our bio to learn more about the BTG Community.

10/26/2021

D.E.A.F. is available on Amazon smile. When purchasing your items on Amazon, be sure to use smile.amazon and choose Deaf Education Awareness Foundation as your chosen nonprofit.

Thank you!

When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will donate to Deaf Education Awareness Foundation. Support us every time you shop.

09/29/2021

Helen Keller was an author, advocate, and lecturer. She was born in 1880 and lived until 1968. She was also deaf and blind. ⁠
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Language and communication connects us all together. When a deaf person doesn't have language, they are separated from other people. When other's cannot communicate with a deaf person, they are separate. ⁠
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This is why language development is so important as early as possible for a child who is deaf and hard of hearing. ⁠
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Be sure to get your child's hearing tested if you notice a delay in language, response times, or inability to attend to sounds around them. ⁠
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09/28/2021

Did you know, you don't need to know Sign Language in order to speak with someone who is deaf? It's true. Deaf individuals may be open to teaching sign language and can be eager to connect. Just ask.

Here are a few ways to make your communication easier:

🗣 Understand that your first interactions may be awkward but with time this will pass.

🗣 Write it down! Use pen and paper if that works for both of you!

🗣 Take time to connect.

🗣 Maintain eye-contact. Visual connection is important and many rely on vision as a tool to communicate.

09/24/2021

At each level, a child with that type of hearing loss cannot hear anything within the color block and above. 

👉🏻 For example, a child with a moderate hearing loss, can only hear some of the sounds of the English language, sometimes a baby crying. They cannot hear birds chirping, wind, whispering, or a sink dripping. 

09/22/2021

Did you know that when someone is 'deaf' doesn't mean they can't hear?

In fact, being 'deaf' refers to the varying degrees of hearing loss, ranging from slight decrease to complete hearing loss.

These various levels mean that each person with a hearing loss hears in different ways and may miss speech sounds or birds chirping or wind blowing through the trees.

The ear is a complex system and no two individuals who are deaf are alike in terms of what they hear and don't hear.

In honor of Deaf Awareness Month, we're sharing some misconceptions about being deaf.

09/21/2021

Did you know hearing loss can occur in multiple places in the ear?

From conductive to sensorineural loss, swipe to learn more.  
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09/17/2021

Hearing aids & cochlear implants aren't enough. Here's what you can do to help your keiki achieve success with listening and spoken language: ⁠
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👍🏼 Find a professional who is familiar in working with the deaf population and language development. ⁠
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👍🏼 Do your research about the different language modalities for the deaf population.⁠
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👍🏼 Seek support in navigating the various studies, approaches, research, ideas, options, etc.⁠
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Ultimately, you as the parent know what’s best for your child and your family.⁠
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Was this helpful? Let us know in the comments! ⁠
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09/15/2021

📌 It's easy to label someone as disabled if you don't take the time to connect and communicate. For someone who is deaf, let's remember that it's not about what they can't do, but what they can do or what they do differently.

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09/14/2021

🔑 Deaf not Disabled ⁠
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The deaf community is actively breaking down stigma's by changing our perspectives. The families and children we serve are not disabled. In fact, they understand the world & communicate differently. Connections are more powerful, meaningful, and intentional. ⁠
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09/11/2021

🦻🏼 Hawaii has an average of 70 babies born with a confirmed permanent hearing loss each year. ⁠
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👉🏻 Of those 70 babies, only half receive services like audiology, early intervention, speech and language, or sign language. ⁠
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With early intervention and proper language learning, the child will be able to live a full life. If you, or someone you know has a child who has failed a newborn screening test, we can help and we are here.⁠
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