Mother Learns American Sign Language Alongside Deaf Son

When the audiologist told Jen Foundas her son was deaf, she added, "Everything is going to be fine, but you need to learn American Sign Language." Jen did, and she says it's the best advice anyone ever gave her.
Read more: wbur.fm/2Lj0wtk

[@natv5387]

Finally a doctor saying learn ASL and not just get a cochlear implant 🙌🏽😭

[@leeleeb7413]

I loved that!

[@telias1528]

Yessssssssss I am so proud of her learn asl yayaya

[@kristinatimblin1766]

Wow, someone give that audiologist a metal and a Ted talk!!! Most of the time, audiologists will only focus on trying to “fix” the deafness without addressing language access issue. Even if parents want to explore options like hearing aides or cochlear implants, please give the child language access first, worry about speech later. As a teacher of the deaf (myself hearing, but married to a deaf man who didn’t learn sign language until college) trying to get parents to learn sign to communicate with their children and limit language deprivation is a huge part of my job and my passion.

[@BooksToAshes]

This made me tear up. I'm 26 and learning sign language (ASL) at home by myself in hopes that when I have a child, regardless if they're hearing or not, I can teach them as well and communicate with them at an early age. This is really beautiful

[@susansaphire5983]

I am currently learning sign. Very difficult to re-wire the ENGLISH thinking brain, but it is so worth it to learn about the richness of Deaf culture. A beautiful language, and honest everyone should have to learn it.

[@stopthegop4894]

That audiologist is an angel, if every professional hearing parents meet could do that.

[@caleadfoter]

It's the way it should be! Thank you for sharing.

[@musicaldramaqueen]

Thank you for this! What every Deaf child deserves!

[@515aleon]

That audiologist was amazing! And she's a great mom to follow that great advise so wholeheartedly.

[@cutiepoodle]

I wish more audiologists would say that to parents and that more parent would learn ASL alongside their child learning 💞🥰🤟

[@telias1528]

I am so so proud of u one day he go thank u one day when he get older 🤟

[@kayde4483]

You’re an awesome mom!

[@atuldamle2441]

He is so brave

[@sjontellegrimes]

hi am deaf in one ear to loss a lot of hearing with out hearing aid hard to keep up with people who talked not sign to me
and hope I can be friend to him but older person

[@PicklesFiona]

Moms is tha bomb!

[@patricianicolesebastian4635]

❤️❤️❤️

[@TJtheHuman]

What if there were a growing set of movies designed by ASL teachers and Deaf filmmakers and entertainers for hearing parents of Deaf children?