Education is Prevention

Children who are Deaf and hard of hearing are more vulnerable to abuse, so early education is essential. 48% of children who are Deaf or hard of hearing experience emotional abuse, 40% experienced physical abuse, and 31% experienced sexual abuse. In many cases, these children cannot recognize social cues and understand inappropriate behavior. These developmental barriers stop children from realizing why someone’s conduct may be problematic. That being said, we propose that schools host an individual safety class once a year for children who are Deaf or hard of hearing as they will have the opportunity to recognize what appropriate vs. inappropriate behaviors are and what they can be on the lookout for in situations. The information discussed in the session should introduce students to appropriate vocabulary, social scripts to respond to in challenging situations and discussion guides for parents in a written format.