Families interested in attending the Early Language Program can request a 30-minute tour on Tuesdays or Thursday between 9:30 – 10:30 AM. The tour gives the Early Language Program Team a chance to meet families including their children. The tour is in turn a chance for families to observe the classes and how language is used therein, meet the staff, and ask questions.

Contact Katie Boyd DeFeo for more information via the Interest Form.

The Early Language Program accepts new families and children year-round as spots become available. Children eligible for the program have hearing loss and are 9 to about 36 months of age. Children are invited to attend based on class capacity, safety, and, the individual needs of the child and their family.

Virtual option all over state of Georgia; In-Person option available for Seeds/Sprouts classes.

We have two classrooms depending on the age and development of each child.

The Seeds classroom (~9-23 months) is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9am-11am.  Families stay on campus and participate in class with their child. Our goal is for children and their families to develop language, connect and learn through play, and build community with other families.    The maximum class capacity is six students between 9 and 23 months.

The Sprouts classroom (~24-36 months) is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 9am-12pm. Parents drop- off their child by 10am and then pick them up at 12pm dismissal.  Our goal is for children to continue to develop their language skills; to build confidence, independence, and social skills; and to learn through play. Children in this class should be ambulatory (crawling or walking) with minimal assistance and eating independently. The maximum class capacity is six students aged 24 months to about 36 months.

This program provides language-rich opportunities for children to engage with their environment, friends, and educators, while learning naturally through play.

The team uses both American Sign Language (ASL) and spoken English in a bilingual setting. In addition, the Early Language Program Team includes other languages that may be used in the family home. The Early Language Program Team recognizes that each child’s language use varies based on their access to sound and speech, responses, and use of ASL and English. The program values Deaf or Hard of Hearing and hearing teams in the classroom. The Early Language Program Team mindfully and intentionally creates a learning environment where language is abundant, differentiated, accessible, and respectful.