Statewide Iowa — A new state law outlines the visual language skills deaf and hard of hearing children need to learn things like fingerspelling and American Sign Language so they’re prepared for kindergarten.
The law also establishes a mentoring program for parents of newborns and toddlers who are diagnosed with hearing difficulties. Tina Caloud outreach director for the Iowa School for the Deaf, attended the bill signing ceremony in the governor’s office and spoke with Radio Iowa through an interpreter.
Studies show the majority of deaf children who enter kindergarten without knowing American Sign Language never catch up academically. Shirley Hampton of Davenport, president of the Iowa Association for the Deaf, spoke through an interpreter during a Radio Iowa interview.
At least 2000 deaf and hard of hearing students are enrolled in Iowa’s K-through-12 schools. The Iowa Association for the Deaf is pushing legislators to offer closed captioning on the livestream of debate in the House and Senate. And the group says a state law may be needed to ensure emergency warning systems alert everyone.
Hampton says she was recently eating in a central Iowa restaurant and saw other customers clustered around a television, then leave the dining room. She had no idea they had heard about a tornado warning through the television and were seeking shelter in the kitchen.
