Deafinitely Communicating

Deafinitely Communicating Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Deafinitely Communicating, Speech Pathologist, Gilbert, AZ.

Speech pathology private practice primarily serving Deaf/Hard of Hearing children and their families using a bilingual American Sign Language/English approach to support communication and overall development.

It is unfair to expect Deaf children (or any child) to know information that they have never been given full access to. ...
08/21/2025

It is unfair to expect Deaf children (or any child) to know information that they have never been given full access to.

Questions to consider:
👉 Has the information been shared with the child?
👉 Was the information shared in a way that they can FULLY access/understand?
👉 How many times did they have access to the information?
👉 Are/Have they being given a chance to express what they know in their preferred language?

💭 Share your thoughts in the comments below. Has this happened to you/your child before?

[ID: The graphic features an illustrated girl on the left side. She has dark hair, a red headband, red shorts with suspenders, and red shoes. She is standing with one hand on her hip and the other hand on her chin, looking upward with a thoughtful or puzzled expression. Above her head is an orange thought bubble containing a red question mark.

To the right, there is text in two sections: At the top, smaller black text reads: “Deaf children are often expected to know or understand information that they have never been given access to (names of family members, their birthdays, current events, etc.)”

Below, in larger bold text, it says: “But…” in playful black font, followed by “It’s hard to express what you have never fully accessed.” The word “fully” is highlighted in red.
At the bottom right corner, there is a small black-and-white logo with a stylized hand and the text “DEAFinitely Communicating.”

Language is EVERYWHERE... Literally, everywhere 🌎. From the laundry basket to the grocery store, every daily moment is a...
08/21/2025

Language is EVERYWHERE... Literally, everywhere 🌎.

From the laundry basket to the grocery store, every daily moment is an opportunity to grow your child’s language.

The Language 360 series will provide parents and caregivers of Deaf and hard-of-hearing children with suggestions and tips on how to turn everyday routines, chores, and play into powerful language learning opportunities.

👀 What to expect:
👋 Quick tips on how to build vocabulary during daily routines
👋 Real-life examples of how to make chores, play, and family time language-rich

Language doesn’t only happen in therapy. It happens 360° around your child’s world. 🌎

✨ Follow along with the series for practical, FUNctional ideas you can start using right away!
💬 Comment an everyday moment, you'd like to see included in the series.

💡 First up: Matching Socks 🧦 → loads of laundry = loads of LANGUAGE. Stay tuned!

[Image descriptions in comments.]

📣 It’s official! We’re headed to ASHA 2025 🎉Join us for SC21: Supporting SLPs Working With Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students...
08/13/2025

📣 It’s official! We’re headed to ASHA 2025 🎉

Join us for SC21: Supporting SLPs Working With Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students in School-Based Settings 💬🤟
🗓 Friday, Nov. 21st | 8am
🎟 Ticketed 2-hour short course

👉 Note from ASHA on short courses: $40/each; SIG members may purchase discounted tickets to SIG-sponsored Short Courses for only $20/each.

Drop a 🥳 if you’re excited about this presentation.
Drop a 👋 if we’ll see you in D.C.!

🤔Have questions about working with DHH students in school-based settings? Drop them in the comments or shoot us a DM!

[ID: Two smiling women announce their ASHA 2025 presentation. Text reads: “We are presenting at ASHA 2025… SC21: Supporting SLPs Working With Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students in School-Based Settings. 2-Hour Short Course, Friday, November 21st at 8am.” Germaine Graham, a Black woman with long braids wearing a mustard yellow top, stands on the left with a red outline. Deanna Barlow, a white woman with long brown hair wearing a white shirt, is on the right with a blue outline. Colorful graphic lines accent the image.]

We’ve made it to the end of the week! Let’s take a moment to celebrate 🥳. Whether it was a new connection, a new sign, a...
08/08/2025

We’ve made it to the end of the week! Let’s take a moment to celebrate 🥳. Whether it was a new connection, a new sign, application of a new strategy, or completion of a goal, we want to celebrate you!

Share your favorite moment(s) in the comments.

Signing doesn’t mean you’ve “given up” on speech. It means you’re giving your child what they need to communicate NOW.Sp...
07/30/2025

Signing doesn’t mean you’ve “given up” on speech. It means you’re giving your child what they need to communicate NOW.

Spoken language might come later — or not at all — but every child deserves access to communication from day one.

[ID: Coral/peach background. Text: 'Signing doesn't mean you've "given up" on speech.' The word 'doesn't' features a white highlight for
emphasis.]

You don’t need to become a teacher to support your child’s language development. When it comes to early language acquisi...
07/30/2025

You don’t need to become a teacher to support your child’s language development. When it comes to early language acquisition, language isn't taught. It's used and modeled in everyday interactions.

Be a language model!
Model accessible language routinely, intentionally, and during everyday activities (i.e., morning routine, breakfast, book reading, playtime/recess, arts/crafts, family time, etc.). Sign consistently, intentionally, and during routine interactions.

✅ What Modeling Looks Like:
👋🏼 Signing or speaking during routines: “EAT,” “ALL DONE,” “BATH TIME”
👋🏾 Labeling what your child sees, hears, or does
👋🏼 Narrating what you see, hear, or are doing
👋🏾 Repeating target signs/vocabulary throughout the day

With modeling, there's no quizzing. No correcting. No "right" answer. When we model, we demonstrate. We observe. We notice. We connect. We allow children to engage at their own pace. We reduce pressure and focus on creating a language-rich, safe environment where learning happens naturally, not by force.

[ID: 2 slides are shown. Slide 1: You don’t need to become a teacher to support your child’s language development. Image of a teacher at a blackboard teaching a math class with a protractor in hand. Slide 2: Be a language model. Show them what language looks like. Image of a family playing with a teddy bear and ring stacker and another image with a family playing basketball. Sample texts above each image read, 'Teddy Bear! Teddy Bear is soft. Maybe he’s hungry. Teddy Bear can play with us.' 'Let’s play basketball. It’s my turn [to shoot]. You’re on dad’s team.Pass!'

Signed words are real words. Signed languages are real languages. Whether words are spoken or signed, they serve to stre...
07/25/2025

Signed words are real words.
Signed languages are real languages.

Whether words are spoken or signed, they serve to strengthen neural pathways in the brain. They allow us to understand and express thoughts, emotions, ideas, and so much more.

When a child signs “mom,” “more,” or “help,” they are using language. And language is the priority. Signed words are words, too.

Keep signing, friends ❤

Language is learned through everyday interactions every single day. Language learning opportunities are all around us. W...
07/25/2025

Language is learned through everyday interactions every single day. Language learning opportunities are all around us. We just have to see things differently. What looks like a simple game of blocks is SO much more than that!

❤ Have a child who enjoys playing with blocks? Join the fun and support your child's language at the same time.

During block play you can support:
⬛ Vocabulary development
⬛ Turn taking skills
⬛ Fine motor coordination
⬛ Social-emotional connection
⬛ Problem solving.. and so much more.

[ID: Header text: 'Every Connection Counts!' What you see: a simple game of blocks. What's really happening: Language building. Growth. Connection. Talk. Sign. Play. Connect.' Bottom left: An image of woman and child playing with blocks with a slight brown glow outline.]

When it comes to language development, families and caregivers should not feel like they have to choose one or the other...
07/22/2025

When it comes to language development, families and caregivers should not feel like they have to choose one or the other when it comes to hearing technology and sign language. Deaf children can use hearing technology AND signed languages. One does not cancel out the other.

🦻Cochlear implants and hearing aids can give access to sound and potentially support speech skills and oral language development.
✋ Sign language gives full, visual access to language from day one and can also support the development of oral language skills and speech.

There's no need to pick just one path to language development!

[ID: A carousel of 4 images is shown.
Image 1: Cochlear implants, hearing aids, speech, and sign language can coexist. ('can' underlined for emphasis)
Image 2: The presence of hearing technology does not have to mean the absence of a signed language. ('not' underlined for emphasis)
Image 3: The use of a signed language does not mean the absence of speech ('not' underlined for emphasis).
Image 4: There is no one way to be deaf. Background: A transparent image of feet planted and arrows pointing in various directions.]

It’s Monday morning, and I want to remind you - You've got this!You may not know all the signs - that's ok. You don't ha...
07/21/2025

It’s Monday morning, and I want to remind you - You've got this!

You may not know all the signs - that's ok. You don't have to know it all.
Building your skills in a signed language happens over time. How?

1️⃣ Use the signs you know.
2️⃣ Learn more.
3️⃣ Keep going.

[ID: A stick finger thumbs up beside the title, "Monday Motivation". Below, the text, 'Q: How do you build your skills in a signed language?'. A list with checkmarks, 'Use the signs you know. Learn more. Keep going.']

Learning something new always comes with both challenges and successes. ASL is no different. Whether you're fumbling thr...
07/18/2025

Learning something new always comes with both challenges and successes. ASL is no different.

Whether you're fumbling through fingerspelling, signing slowly, or unsure if you’re doing it “right”, you're trying. Keep going! 🙌

Every awkward pause, forgotten sign, and blank stare are part of the journey toward connection. You don’t need to be fluent overnight. You don't have to sign perfectly. You are building connection and creating a language-rich world for your Deaf child. That's what it's all about.

❤️ Fluency isn’t the goal. Connection is. And you’re doing amazing.

👤 Tag the parent/caregiver of a Deaf child to let them know what an amazing job they're doing.
👤 Tag the family member who is fiercely committed to communication
👤 Tag the professional who prioritizes connection over comfort
👤 Tag the friend who is committed to providing access one sign at a time

[ID: 2 images. Image 1: 'Fluency is a journey.It includes mistakes, awkward pauses, blank stares, uncontrollable laughter, frustration, and connection. Clip art of a starting location and a winding, dashed-line indicating a journey to an unknown location. Image 2: Word art, 'Keep Going'. Text: Fluency isn't the goal. Connection is.]

💭 Have you heard this before? Let’s talk about it.Deaf children can and do thrive using both signed and spoken languages...
07/17/2025

💭 Have you heard this before? Let’s talk about it.

Deaf children can and do thrive using both signed and spoken languages. Let's embrace access and let go of fear, doubt, and biases.

[ID: A pink ballon with the word 'Myth' inside. Beside it, the text, 'If you teach a deaf child to sign, they'll never talk.' Below, the word, 'Busted', appears in a bold outlined rectangle with a yellow highlight. The main text, 'Signing doesn't stop speech. It supports language development.' The Deafinitely Communicating logo (waving hand inside of a black chat bubble) appears bottom right.]
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Gilbert, AZ
85234

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