Around the world, 90% of hearing parents with a Deaf child never learn sign language. For IDEA students, that means going home to a family they love but are isolated from.

IDEA aims to bring a three-day sign language class to families at each of our schools, where parents go from feeling helpless to connected, and students go from feeling invisible to finally known.

The results go far deeper than vocabulary. At our Leyte school, many parents signed "I love you" to their Deaf child for the very first time. And when they saw how isolated their children had felt at home, the weight of that realization was profound.

Families are eager to keep learning, and IDEA wants to bring these classes back this year. Every $22 creates a seat for one family, giving a parent the tools to finally reach their child.

Rouela, who attended our class last year, shared, 

"We really struggle to communicate with our child at home. Most of the signs we use are ones we made up ourselves.

Sometimes I feel sorry, especially during mealtimes when we are laughing about something funny, and our child cannot understand, just looking at us and asking why we are laughing.

I know a little sign language from watching YouTube videos, but I still cannot express everything I want to say. That is why I am so thankful for this training. It has been a very big help for us in our everyday conversations.

I really hope there will be more training like this in the future."