LEAD-K
The Language Equality and Acquisition for Deaf Kids (LEAD-K) campaign is a grassroots organization. Its mission is to work towards kindergarten readiness for deaf and hard-of-hearing children by promoting access to both American Sign Language (ASL) and English. LEAD-K defines kindergarten readiness as perceptive and expressive proficiency in language by the age of five. Deaf and hard-of-hearing children are at high risk of being cut off from language, language deprivation, which can have far-reaching consequences in many areas of development (e.g., cognitive development, socio-emotional wellbeing, academic outcomes). There are a variety of methods to expose Deaf and hard-of-hearing children to language, including hearing aids, cochlear implants, sign language, and speech and language interventions such as auditory/verbal therapy and Listening and Spoken Language therapy. The LEAD-K initiative was established in response to perceived high rates of delayed language acquisition or language deprivation displayed among that demographic, leading to low proficiency in English skills later in life. The general mission of the group is to promote the use of American Sign Language by Deaf and hard-of-hearing children as early as possible. It has been met with a wide variety of responses, including pushback from organizations and families that promote Listening and Spoken Language for deaf children. The pushback exists due to this flawed research where it used an inappropriate methodology to show that children who receive cochlear implants and appropriate therapy tend to learn language at the same level as their hearing peers. Approach The LEAD-K organization approaches the goal of equal language access in two primary ways: by providing information and statistics on the language skills of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and working with other groups to change public policy at the state level. Awareness There are a number of materials that have been published by LEAD-K providing information about different aspects of language acquisition and education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. These include fact sheets summarizing current statistics on English proficiency, definitions of language development milestones, and clarifications of common misconceptions. There is also an active social media campaign, mainly on the social media platform Facebook, through which the organization shares information on these subjects and interacts with other individuals and groups as they respond to LEAD-K action. Legislation The LEAD-K organization has published an official model legislation to be followed by states currently pursuing action, which includes a number of guidelines and stipulations for both schools and parents. As stated by the organization, the goal of these guidelines are to ensure sufficient language skills in children entering the education system by promoting access to both ASL and English. The model consists of two parts with a total of 12 subsections, which outline the procedures that states may follow to establish and assess language development milestones and approach the education of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. State action , according to Sheri Ann Farinha, LEAD-K director and CEO of Norcal, an agency that provides services to Deaf people in California, the states of California, Hawaii, Kansas, Oregon, South Dakota, Georgia, and