About
Language belongs at home.
The Language Access Project is a community-driven initiative working to expand access to American Sign Language, Deaf culture, education, and connection for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children, their families, and the communities surrounding them.
We believe families should never have to search alone for the language, resources, and community their child deserves.
Our mission
Most Deaf children are born into hearing families.
For many parents, their child’s diagnosis is also their first introduction to hearing loss, American Sign Language, Deaf culture, educational options, and an entirely new community. Families can quickly find themselves navigating appointments, terminology, decisions, and resources they never knew they would need.
But there is something they can begin giving their child immediately: Language. The Language Access Project exists to make that first step easier.
Our approach
Language first. Community always.
We believe access to language should begin as early as possible, and families should have the support, education, and community they need to make that possible. Our approach centers American Sign Language, Deaf voices, family education, and meaningful community connection.
We aren’t here to tell families that there is only one right path for their child. Deaf and hard-of-hearing children may use ASL, spoken language, hearing technology, or a combination of communication approaches throughout their lives. What matters to us is that language access doesn’t have to wait while families figure everything else out.
We work to bring ASL education closer to home, connect families with members of the Deaf community, provide practical resources, and create spaces where people can learn through real interaction, not simply memorization.
Where we stand. Language from day one. Not against devices, against waiting. Your child’s voice grows. Read the three things we believe, and how ASL fits with hearing aids and cochlear implants, on Your ASL journey.
Our values
We learn together.
We connect families.
We center Deaf voices.
We build access.
Our story
How this began.
Our story starts with our daughter, Rosie. It took until her third hearing test for us to begin accepting that she was Deaf. We were in denial, trying to understand what came next. Her audiologist offered amplification and advised us against learning or teaching her ASL.
As we looked beyond that guidance, we struggled to connect the resources available to us. We were finding our footing in an unfamiliar community and culture, learning a new language, and trying to bring that language into Rosie’s everyday life.
We wanted what every parent wants: to connect with our child, understand her thoughts, and help her feel she belongs. Learning from Deaf adults and finding people to turn to became an essential part of that journey.
The Language Access Project grew from wanting other families to find those connections, too—a place to learn ASL, meet other families, and learn from Deaf educators and mentors. We’re still learning alongside Rosie. And we hope to make the beginning feel a little less overwhelming for the next family.
— Mary Ross, Founder and Rosie’s mom
