Gallaudet University is dedicated to language access for all deaf and hard of hearing people. This basic right to language starts at birth. We have several early intervention programs that improve outcomes for our youngest community members.
Those programs include:
- National Beacon Center
- Regional Early Acquisition of Language Project (REAL)
- Early Intervention Studies academic tracks
While some of the work is new, the goal of these programs is the same: to ensure every child has fully accessible language throughout the critical window of language acquisition, from birth to 3 years old.
National Beacon Center
In 2024, Gallaudet University entered into a five-year, $3.75 million agreement to join the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) National Network.
The National Beacon Center was established within Gallaudet to act as the Implementation and Change Center for EHDI. The other centers in the National Network are run by Hands and Voices (Family Leadership in Language and Learning Center) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (Provider Education Center). The three-center network is funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), which is under the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
Gallaudet’s Beacon Center ensures that young deaf and hard of hearing children up to age three receive appropriate support to improve their language acquisition outcomes. The center helps states and territories integrate evidence-based practices into their early intervention programs. It also provides technical assistance to service providers and other key stakeholders in the early intervention pipeline.
The National Beacon Center is led by Program Director Dr. Christi Batamula, G-’02, and Assistant Director Dr. Bobbie Jo Kite, ’04 & G-’06. They are supported by a strong cross-disciplinary team of early language specialists, deaf educators, early childhood specialists, multilingual and cultural experts, and more.
Read more about the National Beacon Center’s work.
REAL Project
The Regional Early Acquisition of Language Project (REAL) is a collaboration between Gallaudet’s Clerc Center and the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind (AIDB). The mission of REAL is to ensure that deaf infants and toddlers from birth through 3 years old have full access to language, including American Sign Language and English.
REAL works directly with early intervention providers and families to build their capacity to support young deaf and hard of hearing children. The project maintains a network of regional centers, which REAL staff use to share resources and tools with providers and families across the United States.
The REAL Project is led by Dr. Sarah Honigfeld, G-’18, along with a strong cross-disciplinary team of speech and language pathologists, teachers of the deaf and hard of hearing, social workers, audiology, and early intervention educators. and more.
Early Intervention Studies
Gallaudet University has several Early Intervention Studies degree and certificate programs designed to develop the early intervention providers of the future.
Minor in Family and Child Studies
An undergraduate minor designed to prepare students with a foundation for understanding how children develop, learn, and behave. Students develop the competencies needed to effectively guide children and work with their families.
M.A. in Early Intervention Studies
An 18-month hybrid, interdisciplinary Master of Arts program. Students learn leadership, advocacy, and collaboration skills that promote age and developmentally-appropriate outcomes for infants and toddlers.
Early Intervention Studies Certificate
Available as a professional certificate, this is a hybrid seven-course program. Professionals from a wide range of disciplines can learn current evidence-based knowledge and skills for working with families and their young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Gallaudet’s Vision
All of Gallaudet’s early intervention work is part of the university’s vision: to become the leading international resource for research, innovation, and outreach related to deaf and hard of hearing people. That starts with deaf and hard of hearing children from birth to three years of age.
The National Beacon Center and REAL will be collaborating on some exciting projects that overlap to leverage and amplify the expertise housed here at Gallaudet University and Clerc Center.
Many other faculty, programs, and research initiatives on campus are also involved in early intervention and youth wellness in various forms, including:
- The Education program, which offers BA and MA specializations in Early Childhood Education.
- Research conducted by Education faculty members.
- The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Child Resilience Center, which trains mental health providers and provides youth mental health resources for the community.
- Allied Health Services, which provides equipment and testing for children.
