Use this checklist to strengthen a middle or high school library for deaf and hard of hearing learners. It prompts you to include deaf and hard of hearing characters navigating adolescence and identity, texts that reflect diverse racial, cultural, and gender experiences, and Deaf-authored work across genres. It steers you away from deficit or inspiration-only portrayals and toward books that show many Deaf futures. It also asks whether texts drive analysis and writing across subjects and whether students help choose and recommend books. Use it to find gaps and plan additions.
Because of your selected audience type, you may also enjoy the following related resources.
A self-check teachers use to build a classroom with clear visual access, real ASL and English use, Deaf culture, a rich library, and a safe, inclusive climate for deaf and hard of hearing students.
A presentation teams use to build a shared picture of an exemplary ASL/English Bilingual classroom across five parts, from visual access to a safe, inclusive climate.
A reading list educators can use to ground classroom setup in evidence on visual access, ASL/English instruction, culturally sustaining practice, and literacy-rich spaces.