Youth and Family Connections – School Support
SCHOOL SUPPORT
YFC offers several opportunities for schools!
ARMED
ARMED (Adult Role Models in Education of the Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing) is a program that provides school-age children the opportunity to learn from DDBHH adults. Volunteers go into classrooms and present about their experience in school, their jobs, how they got the training they needed, and the choices they made while growing up that led to their success later in life. They also teach self-advocacy skills, the importance of knowing your rights, and encourage DDBHH students to have high expectations for themselves.
Our volunteers represent a variety of life experiences and occupations, including: a truck driver, a computer programmer, a lawyer, a doctor, an artist, and a stand-up comedian!
To request an ARMED presentation, contact us!
READ Days
READ Days bring adult Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing adults into classrooms, libraries, or community settings to read stories, foster literacy, and encourage DDBHH children to be who they are. Mentors select books relevant to what students are learning or topics related to Deaf culture.
Due to donations from the American Library Association, students also get free books during READ events!
DEAR Week
DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) is a week-long event celebrating books and reading! Schools, libraries, families, or individuals can register to be added to an email list. Each day during that week, they will get a message in their inbox of ASL storytelling, books with Deaf, DeafBlind, or Hard of Hearing characters, and literacy development tips. Sharing these resources is a great way to foster a love of reading. This week is also the perfect time to hold READ Day events!
To learn more from DEAR, check out our previous DEAR Daily Newsletters.
Contact Us to request a classroom visit!