Deaf in Sweden

Deaf parents

Being a deaf parent with hearing or deaf children creates different and difficult special situations. The shortage of interpreters, which makes the contact with school more difficult is only one of the problems. Deaf parents need special support, not least from each other.

Deaf parents must be provided with good knowledge about their own and the child´s role, situation and development in the family and in society. With this knowledge parents can be strong and safe in their role. Parents must be able to communicate with their children in sign language.

Hearing children with deaf parents learn sign language already when they are small, while hearing parents who have a deaf child must have the opportunity to learn sign language. Today there are TUFF-courses (sign language education for parents) in several places in the country. These are largely financed with government funds. The object with the courses is that parents should be able to communicate with their deaf child and create a signing environment for the whole family. Community councils and municipalities should have a good service which corresponds to the existing needs.