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to travel, mileage is provided, and some
tutors make visits biweekly for two hour
sessions.
After five years, challenges remain, but
also the joys. We have enjoyed seeing
relationships develop between families and
tutors and communication blossom
between family members. We’ve been
gratified to see the students’ awe as they
describe the first time a deaf adult came to
their home.
C o l o r a d o ’s Families
At the Heart of the Pro g r a m
Every year, approximately 40 families are
served and they are the heart of our Shared
Reading Project. Our tutors are often the
first deaf adults that the family has met—
and several parents have expressed feeling
very nervous about meeting a deaf adult
for the first time, especially about how
they would communicate. After a couple
of sessions, however, they become
comfortable. Many parents eventually
interact often with deaf individuals,
especially at events and conferences.
Some families come to view the deaf
tutor as part of the family. As they become
close to their tutors, they sometimes resist
changing tutors at the end of the year. We
encourage a yearly change, though, feeling
it benefits the families to meet a variety of
deaf adults and learn new information
from each.
FA L L / W I N 2 0 0 6 O DY S S E Y
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