Hands & Voices

Date: Tuesday, March 10th, 2026 || Time: 10:00am – 11:00am MT

Adjust your time zone accordingly!!

Safety Considerations in Deaf Schools

Join the O.U.R. Project core team and guests in discussing Safety Considerations for Deaf Schools. After more than 15 years of education on protective factors for children and families, we have discussed home, sleepovers, schools, camps and safety on the internet. In this session, we’re focusing on schools for the Deaf because of the unique communication and reporting considerations for DHH students.

Participants will identify:

Child-focused factors that increase safety – or vulnerability
System-focused factors that increase safety, or create vulnerability.
Family-focused factors that increase safety for DHH students.

Pre-work: Questions for Overnights, Camps & Dorms: Communicator, Summer 2024 (digital issue), page 24-27. https://hv-library.com/communicator-issues/summer-2024/

Presenters:

The O.U.R. Children's Project core team: Janet DesGeorges, Harold Johnson, Sara Kennedy, and Chresta Brinkman, with guests from the fields of Deaf education and psychology/counseling.

Registration Form:

Fill out the form below and click the Submit button at the bottom to register your information.

Upcoming Events

Debrief: Safety Considerations in Deaf Schools

Date: Tuesday, April 14th, 2026 || Time: 10:00am – 11:00am MT

Adjust your time zone accordingly!!

Event Description

At our last session in March, the O.U.R. session explored Safety Considerations in Deaf Schools. Let's take that learning deeper by discussing reflections, the wisdom among us, potential action steps, and any results from "This Month, I will" pledges from March.

Participants will further reflect on:

Child-focused factors that increase safety – or vulnerability
System-focused factors that increase safety, or create vulnerability.
Family-focused factors that increase safety for DHH students.

ASL interpreting will be provided, and auto-captioning will be utilized. The meeting is best viewed on a laptop vs. a phone.

Thank you for your ongoing commitment to child safety on behalf of "O.U.R." deaf/hard of hearing children. See you on April 14, and please remember to adjust for your time zone.

Presenters Bios

The O.U.R. Project Core Team: Janet DesGeorges, Harold Johnson, Sara Kennedy and Chresta Brinkman

Registration will open March 4th

*What is O.U.R. Children Safety Project - (Observe, Understand, and Respond)?

Hands & Voices has created a Community of Learners, comprised of parents, family members and professionals, to explore and develop activities that will work to increase the safety and success of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. This welcoming and inclusive community of learners values participation from Hands & Voices leadership including GBYS and ASTra program staff. Through discussion and critical reflection, the group focuses on issues to increase awareness and understanding surrounding prevention of child maltreatment for deaf, hard of hearing and DHH Plus children. Together, members of O.U.R. identify and determine action steps that support others in their local communities that serve to observe and respond to instances of abuse, neglect, and bullying, as well as cohesively work to enhance policies for prevention within the systems of care serving D/HH children and families. The O.U.R Children’s Safety Project incorporates the foundation and mission of Hands & Voices, and as such guides the message of prevention throughout Hands & Voices state and provincial chapters in order to carry out the work that enables deaf, hard of hearing and DHH Plus children to reach their highest potential.

O.U.R. Children's Safety Project

Registration Page