Arizona Hands & Voices

06/03/2026

🌟📚🎶 Join Us for Storybeatz! 🎶📚🌟

Looking for a fun, interactive way to support your Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) child's language and literacy development? Come join Arizona Hands & Voices Guide By Your Side for our next Storybeatz session!

📖 Featured Story: Caps for Sale
🗓️ Thursday, June 11, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m. (Arizona Time)
💻 Zoom ID: 834 7644 7204
🔑 Passcode: 483844

StoryBeatz combines:
✨ Story Time
🎵 Music Time
🫧 Bubble Time
🤟 Signing Time

Families will learn fun tips and strategies to engage children through both American Sign Language (ASL) and Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) while enjoying a lively hour of literacy and music.

✅ Live transcript provided
✅ ASL interpreter available upon request
✅ Free and family-friendly

Whether you're new to the journey or have been part of the DHH community for years, StoryBeatz is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn, and have fun together.

📧 To request a future StoryBeatz topic/session: [email protected]
📧 To request an ASL Interpreter: [email protected]

06/02/2026

05/31/2026

Join us!

05/30/2026

05/26/2026

Check out the parent perspective of our Executive Director, Heidi Klomhaus as she shares about middle school, accessibility, and challenges on page 18.

The newest issue of the Digital Communicator is here! 🎉

Inside this issue:
✨ HVMP front page feature article
✨ Interactive Table of Contents — click and go!
✨ Knowledge is Power — now also available in Spanish (link included at the end of the article on page 36)
✨ Stepping into the Future — a college student and her mom reflect on the steps to success
✨ Building Preverbal Skills
✨ When Access is There, But It’s Still Hard

There’s something for every family, professional, and advocate in this issue.

📅 Interested in contributing to the next print edition? The submission deadline is August 15, 2026.

Read the latest issue here: https://hv-library.com/communicator-issues/2026-summer-digital/

05/10/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible moms, grandmas, caregivers, and mother figures in our community.
Your love, strength, advocacy, and endless support make a difference every single day. Wishing you a day filled with joy, connection, and appreciation.

05/07/2026

Provide your input to create an amazing experience for Deaf/Hard of Heating campers this summer!

👋🏾 Summer is almost here... and so is Deaf Camp!!

Deafinitely Communicating is excited to announce that after taking last year off, we will be hosting camp again this year in Mesa, Arizona. We are seeking volunteers from our local community to help us make this camp another memorable and exciting experience for our campers.

Volunteer criteria:
🌵High school age and above
🌵Conversational American Sign Language (ASL) skills and willingness to learn
🌵A passion for Deaf and hard of hearing children and deaf education
😆 Commitment to FUN, LEARNING, and PLAY!!!

Note: This is a bilingual/bimodal camp - American Sign Language will be used during the entire camp with interpreters available on site to support campers and volunteers as needed.

To receive a link to the survey-
Families/caregivers - 'FAMILY'
DHH community - 'DHH'
Volunteers - 'HELP'

[ID: A bright yellow square flyer with bold black text. At the top, a white rounded pill-shaped banner reads "WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!" in bold black letters. To the left is a cheerful illustrated child with dark hair and brown skin, wearing a yellow shirt and blue shorts, standing with arms raised among green cacti and desert succulents. To the right, large bold block letters read "2026 DEAF CAMP." Below the illustration, centered text reads: "Help us plan an amazing camp for Deaf and hard-of-hearing campers in Arizona's East Valley. Three short surveys are now open! Comment to receive the corresponding survey link!" Beneath that are three black-outlined rounded rectangle buttons labeled "FAMILY/CAREGIVERS," "DEAF/HH COMMUNITY," and "VOLUNTEERS" in bold black text. In the bottom right corner is a small logo of a hand with sound waves, with the text "DEAFINITELY COMMUNICATING" below it.]

04/30/2026

NEW from Hands & Voices!
Genetic testing is a personal journey—and having the right information matters.

✨ We’re excited to share NEW resources from Hands & Voices designed to support both families and professionals in making informed decisions:

✔️ A Parent’s Guide to Exploring Genetic Testing: Making Informed Family Decisions
✔️ Keys for Discussing Genetic Testing with Families: A Guide for Professionals

Whether you're just starting to explore or looking to deepen conversations, these tools are here to help.

👉 Scan the QR code to explore all available resources.

https://handsandvoices.org/resources/genetic-testing/index.html

Because what works for your child is what makes the choice right. 💜

04/10/2026

🌟 Presenting Sponsor Spotlight 🌟

A very special THANK YOU to our Presenting Sponsor, Valley Toyota Dealers, for their incredible support of the Arizona Hands & Voices Spring Family Picnic! 💙

Because of your generous partnership, 185 attendees from across Arizona gathered for a day filled with connection, community, and access to valuable resources for families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children. Your support helped make this event welcoming and accessible, including assisting families traveling long distances so they could participate in this meaningful experience together.

We are deeply grateful for your leadership, community investment, and commitment to strengthening opportunities for families across Arizona. Thank you for helping make this day possible!

04/10/2026

🌟 Platinum Sponsor Spotlight 🌟

A heartfelt THANK YOU to Happy Ears for serving as a Platinum Sponsor of the Arizona Hands & Voices Spring Family Picnic! 💙

With 185 attendees joining us from across Arizona, this special day created meaningful opportunities for families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children to connect, access resources, and build community together. Your support helps families feel more confident as they navigate hearing technology and communication choices for their children.

We are grateful for your partnership and your commitment to supporting DHH children and families across our community!