Beginnings SC's Parent Support Services
Beginnings SC provides expert knowledge and individualized planning strategies for parents, professionals, and communities to promote successful outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing in South Carolina.
We work with parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing, Deaf and hard of hearing parents, and the professionals that work with these families, all across South Carolina.
Beginnings SC Parent Support Services
On-Call Coaching Hours / Office Hours
Immediate guidance on critical concerns can make all the difference. Parents can book readily-available appointments with licensed Teachers for the Deaf and parent experts who can provide real-time information, support, and referrals. During office hours parents can receive IFSP/IEP prep support and pre-school transition support.
Building a community is invaluable, especially with other family members who have lived a similar experience. We organize parent networking events in collaboration with
Hands and Voices, providing parents with a supportive network of peers who understand the unique challenges they face.
Language Building Services
After access needs are met, parents must focus on language building with their Deaf or hard of hearing child. We provide opportunities for building language through events, like language building game nights.
Here at BSC we think resources should be open access and should be readily available for all, including current parents and parents with children with unidentified hearing loss.
Parent-Focused Workshops
Beginnings SC facilitates workshops and resources set up for families based on their identified needs.
Tutoring through College Partnerships
Finding tutoring in a child’s language modality is tough for parents. Beginnings SC facilitates tutoring opportunities through college partnerships.
Parent Education 0-3
During 1:1 parent education sessions, our trained Parent Education Specialist provide impartial support and the resources they need to make informed decisions for their children.
Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) is a 10-week home visiting program that is responsive to our families with children who have hearing loss. Our coach will share information about common parenting challenges of infants and support the parent with parenting during the visit, particularly helping them notice the positive parenting they are already doing.
Loaner Library Services
Resources to support access to sound can be expensive! We have a retention devices library for parents to trial different retention devices before making an expensive purchase! We also provide remote microphones to child care centers so parents can ensure their child has access to incidental language.
When a child does not pass their hearing screenings, parents need support, education, and intervention, whether the hearing loss is temporary or permanent. We are ready to support families from our hearing screening process to diagnosis throughout our follow up after hearing screenings.
Guidance for Navigating Childcare Centers for Deaf Parents who use ASL
Navigating the childcare enrollment process is already a difficult process, but the process can be even more tricky to navigate when using your second language. We on-call coaching directly to Deaf parents who use American Sign Language, facilitation of child care resources, and scheduling of interpreting services for enrollment activities.
Supporting childcare providers is vital. Caregivers can request that specialized training and technical assistance be provided to their child’s child care center so Deaf children can bloom in those gardens, too.
We want to support parents on their journey, and we provide hearing screenings at child care centers to ensure parents receive the education and support they need to ensure that Deaf children receive early intervention immediately.