Use this checklist as you walk through your school to see whether Deaf-centered practice, meaning learning built around Deaf people, language, and culture, is real in daily life and not just in the mission statement. It prompts you to look for Deaf adults visible as leaders and experts, Deaf culture and history in shared spaces, ASL used and respected everywhere, active partnerships with the Deaf community, and real leadership roles for students. Use what you notice to guide programming, staffing, and coaching across the whole school.
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A guide school leaders can use to strengthen their program's Deaf-centered identity, its Deaf role models, ASL use, and Deaf culture, with next steps for each stage of growth.
A tip sheet for spotting the marks of a school's Deaf-centered identity: Deaf role models, ASL, Deaf culture, community ties, and student leadership. Use it as a quick reference.
A reading list leaders can use to ground a school's Deaf-centered character in evidence on language, culture, community, and child development.