The Importance of Books with Deaf Characters
We all know that literacy is a huge part of success in the classroom, right? Students are more likely to transfer literacy learning to real life and the future if they are engaged in relevant learning opportunities (Morrow and Gambrell). One way that we can blend literacy opportunities with meaningful content while also building up our deaf and hard of hearing students’ self identity, advocacy, and awareness, is by including books with deaf characters into our sessions and sharing these resources with families. This is especially important for our students that may be more isolated in schools or programs without deaf peers, or who live at home with family members that are all hearing or maybe don’t use ASL like they do.
A few years ago, I started my Amazon wishlist, as many other teachers did, and I filled my list with books with deaf characters after discovering Taylor Thomas and Emily Manson’s really comprehensive Google Sheet filled with books,...
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Stefanie Kessen
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Stefanie Kessen, M.Ed., Founder of The Online Itinerant, saw a need for added training and support for those who work with students who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families. With more than 25 years in the field of Deaf Education, as a Teacher of the Deaf, interpreter, and Education Specialist for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students, she recognized that the key to changing the lives of the children was to support the adults who love and work with them. Through this epiphany, the vision of the Online Itinerant, an online portal that would create a community of support and provide for Professional Development needs and beyond, was born. Prior to formally launching the Professional Academy on July 1, 2018, a team of Founding Members worked together to identify the training needs for those who work with DHH students. During its pilot year, The Online Itinerant's Founding Members engaged in the development of a community that was expansive and powerful in supporting the professional development needs of all members of the IEP team in supporting students with hearing loss. The goal of The Online Itinerant is to build community and provide training, support, and resources for those who are passionate about meeting the needs of students who are deaf or hard of hearing. If you would like more information, contact Stefanie Kessen at [email protected]