Join us as we explore the most common barriers immigrant families experience during school enrollment and throughout their child’s educational journey. Drawing from Hands United’s work with families across the country, participants will gain insight into the practical, linguistic, cultural, and systemic challenges these families face. The session will also provide actionable strategies for educators, interpreters, advocates, and service providers to improve communication, build trust, and create more equitable and accessible support systems for immigrant families of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

As the number of multilingual Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students continues to grow, educators and service providers must be prepared to effectively support families from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Dive into current demographic trends, cultural beliefs and perspectives common among Spanish-speaking families, and the impact these factors may have on educational and healthcare decision-making.  

In addition a Spanish-speaking parent co-presenter who will share firsthand experiences navigating diagnosis, intervention, and educational services, providing valuable insight into how professionals can better support and empower families.

What do hearing parents of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children need most after a diagnosis? While much of the focus is placed on technology, speech, and educational planning, families are often left navigating the emotional, social, and identity aspects of raising a DHH child with little guidance.

Presented by a pediatric audiologist who is also a Deaf adult, bilateral cochlear implant recipient, and mother, this session offers a unique lived and professional perspective on the experiences that often go unspoken. Participants will gain insight into the invisible challenges DHH children may face—including listening fatigue, communication breakdowns, identity development, self-advocacy, and the difference between hearing and understanding.

The session concludes with tools and conversation starters that help parents foster deeper communication, confidence, and connection with their children.

Communication access should never depend on a single person, a single technology, or a single plan. Yet every day, Teachers of the Deaf, special education teams, and district leaders navigate last-minute requests, provider shortages, technology challenges, changing student needs, and evolving classroom environments. These everyday obstacles create friction that can interrupt learning and limit student access.

This session explores how K-12 districts can move beyond simply providing accommodations to building resilient accessibility strategies that ensure communication access remains consistent, flexible, and student-centered. Leave with actionable ideas for strengthening collaboration, improving continuity of services, and restoring access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing students every day.

Life after high school is loaded with new experiences and challenges along with a healthy dose of reality. Have you ever asked yourself what more can you do for transition students? If so, you are not alone. Setting students up for success requires knowledge of how the world works outside of the K-12 educational system. It requires the courage to step back and coach for postsecondary life. It also involves honesty and transparency.

This session will dive into the accommodations provided in the K-12 setting that may hinder transition success. You’ll leave this session with clear examples of how to transition your transition students so they have the knowledge to be successful after high school.

May 6

Wrap up the school year 5 day challenge