Who We Serve

What We Do | Enrollment | Contact Info | Staff

HSDC’s Parent-Infant Program (PIP) is a birth to three service providing free parental support and coaching for the families of Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing toddlers. Families in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties are eligible to receive services.

PIP uses a bilingual/bicultural approach that emphasizes language acquisition in both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. While enrolled in PIP, families will develop their ASL skills to create a nurturing, language-accessible home for their Deaf or hard of hearing toddler.

Curious about the benefits of bilingual education for deaf and hard of hearing children? Check out our Resources page or contact us with questions.

Visit the HSDC Family Room for online lessons, tips, and children’s stories in American Sign Language: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube

Schedule an in-home evaluation

What We Do

PIP Specialists travel to your household to engage you and your family in your natural setting. These home visits develop a child’s cognitive abilities and encourage their acquisition of essential language and literacy skills, while providing parents or caregivers with the skills they need to create a nurturing home for their Deaf, DeafBlind, or hard of hearing child. We use an evidence-based ASL-English bilingual approach that can be adapted to fit your family’s cultural and language needs.

Home visits are the core of our services, but PIP offers a variety of support for parents and families, including:

  • Bilingual/bicultural Family Nights
    • Parent support groups led by a professional counselor
    • ASL/English playgroups for toddlers
    • Celebrate Reading Nights
    • Access to alternative early learning groups in Pierce and Snohomish Counties
  • American Sign Language (ASL) instruction
  • Preschool transition support
  • Resource Library

The video is endorsed by the PIP (Parent Infant Program) and ECE (Early Childhood Education) teams here at HSDC and the ASDC (American Society for Deaf Children.  The video was created by Kim Ofori-Sanzo, founder of Language 1st.  It is intended for parents, and early intervention providers, to share the importance of language access from birth.  Want more information? Talk to your PIP provider or your ECE teachers.  For more education about the impact of language, visit Language 1st.   Also worth a peek, Language 1stnew CISIGN campaign.

Enrollment

PIP services are free for families in King County, Pierce County, and Snohomish County. If you’d like to learn more, just get in touch. We’ll schedule an in-home evaluation to assess your family’s needs.

Contact us to learn more

Contact

Online
Email: education@hsdc.org
Phone (voice): 206-323-5770
Fax: 206-328-6871

Staff

Click on a staff member’s picture to learn more about them.
  • Savannah Hagwood, MA

    Savannah Hagwood, MA

    Deaf & Hard of Hearing Early Language Coach

  • Cassie Owens

    Cassie Owens, MEd

    Deaf & Hard of Hearing Early Language Coach

  • Annie Utley

    Annie Utley, MEd

    Deaf & Hard of Hearing Early Language Coach