Empowering a new generation of families: Family Learning Vacation returns to Gallaudet after 30 years

Parents at Family Learning Vacation (FLV) “arrive as teeny kittens and leave like great lions: with a roar. They are ready to watch their children thrive and grow,” describes Evon J. Black, ’87 & G-’96, Associate Director of the Center for Black Deaf Studies. Black would know: not only did she work as an FLV counselor when she was an undergraduate, but she was also instrumental in the return of the Family Learning Vacation to Gallaudet after its 30-year hiatus.

She remembers there were almost no families of color at FLV back then, despite needing support. “Many Black and brown families miss out on early intervention for their children and fall through the cracks,” Black says. 

That push for the return of FLV grew in summer 2024 when Candace Jones, ’08, from the School of Language, Education, and Culture, led a week-long family workshop in Michigan covering a range of bilingual, multicultural, and social-emotional learning topics. Through this experience, Jones realized that building a strong pipeline across all age groups is essential to strengthening Gallaudet as a university. “Rebuilding the connection between a child’s home environment, school, and community is crucial to ensure no one is left behind,” she says.

The FLV Core Planning Team was born. Chaired by Jones and co-chaired by Black and Norma Morán, Associate Director of Nuestra Casa, they worked to create an affirming environment packed with activities and learning, and secured funding to minimize families’ expenses. 

In June, 18 families of color with grade school children arrived at Gallaudet’s campus from all over the country, kick-starting a new generation of FLV with high energy by sharing valuable resources and creating new friendships.

Sharing lived experiences in a supportive environment

FLV week can be an emotional experience for parents. Many may wrestle with guilt, uncertainty, and anxiety for their deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) child, on top of their own needs for more information and navigating bureaucratic processes. Tears in the audience were as prevalent as supportive hugs, highlighting how impactful FLV is on a personal level.

One family from Atlanta came with their 6-year-old hearing daughter and 3-year-old deaf son. Their Deaf mentor suggested they attend FLV to learn more about the Deaf community. Mom Reema Bhakta appreciates getting to know families with a range of ASL knowledge and use. “It’s good to see that we’re not alone and that he [our son] is not alone as he grows up. He will be part of something and we will all be part of that, too,” she says.

Jameel and Toni Cannon-Mitchell were not new to conferences for parents of deaf children, but came to FLV from Detroit partly because they wanted to see if Gallaudet would be a good fit for their high schooler, who is nearing graduation. They also liked getting the chance to support new parents. Jameel says, “I remember where we came from when our kid was really small–others are deep in that now.”

“Each family comes to FLV for their own reasons, based on their own experiences, and with their own comfort levels and expertise,” Morán says. For instance, Deaf parents with deaf children have a high level of communication access but may need resources to support their child in mainstream school. For example, they can learn about how best to prepare and advocate for their child in annual IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meetings. 

For families who are learning to sign? “You’re not going to become fluent overnight, or become an expert about deaf education overnight, but you’ll learn to be a strong advocate for your child. It’s important to start learning and stay motivated to learn,” Morán says. “Whether they use a cochlear implant, speech, or other tools, what is essential is that ASL is still included in their communication and access to the world.” Some families haven’t yet had the opportunity to learn ASL; FLV helps them take those first baby steps and cheers them on as they progress. 

New friendships, stronger family bonds

While parents focus on their learning, children are divided into three age-based groups to have a fantastic time in their own sessions. Volunteers with deep experience work with preschool and lower elementary students, focusing on fun learning with ASL, while upper elementary-aged students are led through engaging activities by teenage CODAs (Children of Deaf Adults). National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Youth Program Director, Claudia Giordano, ’17 & G-’22, and Visionaries of the Creative Arts Co-founder, Michelle Banks, E-’89, guide the older teenage campers in leadership and arts sessions.

And there’s a lot going on through these interactions. “Deaf children feel valued and build confidence interacting in a totally accessible environment. Hearing siblings may be inspired to expand how they communicate with their deaf brothers and sisters. When they grow up, maybe some of these CODAs will work as advocates, work with deaf children, or as interpreters. We want to lift up everyone in different ways,” says Black.

In the afternoon and evenings, families get back together. Some cool off and play in Gallaudet’s pool, hang out in Union Market, La Cosecha, or nearby on 8th street, while others go on guided trips to check out local monuments and museums. At night, everyone comes back together for laughter-filled group activities, like a mix and mingle, family game night, movie, and paint nights. 

Adding to the energy, two social media influencers, Estefani and Oscar from @thatdeaffamily, and Tyanna Myers of @tyannamyers were two of the participating families and presenters at FLV. Both families posted content from their time in DC, whether documenting a multi-day cross-country train trip, sweet new friendships among the children, or their overall experiences. 

Learning from leading experts

Each morning, parents participate in engaging workshops delivered by Gallaudet’s experts in language and identity development in deaf children. “We hope the families are satisfied and take advantage of all FLV has to offer them,” says Morán. There’s a lot to take away:

In her presentation, Laurene Simms, Special Advisor to the President for Bilingualism, emphasized FLV as a space for families to think deeply about communication in their own culture and family. She shared her own multicultural, multilingual family experience, explaining how Deaf, hearing, and hard-of-hearing members of each generation mix language, modality, and culture, all toward the shared goal of a strong sense of connection through communication. 

Explorations of cultural identity are paramount at FLV. Dr. Carla García-Fernández, ’92, faculty Director of Nuestra Casa, presented a workshop equipping parents to confidently lead meaningful conversations about personal and social identities with their families. Latrina Harris-Lewis, ’02 & G-’04, presented on strengthening Family Leadership, centering a sense of joy and discovery as she framed parents’ everyday actions as opportunities to express family leadership through visual communication, shared decision-making, and advocacy. 

Caregivers also learned strategies for supporting their children in school settings. Dr. Onudeah Nicolarakis, ’04 & G-’06, Assistant Professor in Education, offered parents practical strategies to advocate and support their children to promote fairness and inclusion in school. Early Intervention specialists, Dr. Sarah Honigfeld, G-’18, and Stacy Abrams, ’99, outlined early intervention resources available to families from the Clerc Center, such as the REAL project.

Good news: Gallaudet plans to return to offering an annual FLV, most likely scheduled later in the summer to allow more families from the Northeast region to attend. Black says FLV will continue being “in the business of lifting up and learning, going from sorrow to strength, and from pain to beauty. This exposure is important.”

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For more scenes from FLV, check out some of the great photos and videos posted on the Center for Black Deaf Studies and Nuestra Casa feeds on Instagram.