Sign Language Class – A Bridge for Family Connection: Supporting Families of Children with Disabilities in Caring for Their Children at Home

On January 7–8, a Sign Language training course for parents of children with hearing impairments was held at the Thuy An Rehabilitation Center for People with Disabilities. The training was part of the global initiative “Supporting Families of Children with Disabilities to Care for Their Children at Home”, initiated by International Social Service (ISS), and jointly implemented by the Research and Training Centre for Community Development (RTCCD), Thuy An Rehabilitation Center, and SPOON foundation.

Communication plays a critical role in the relationship between parents and children. For families with children who have hearing impairments, limitations in daily communication often lead to anxiety about emotional bonding and mutual understanding. The 2.5-day Sign Language course equipped parents with practical, essential signs, enabling more effective communication with their children and laying a foundation for stronger, more natural, and sustainable parent–child bonding in everyday life.

Learning sign language requires parents to adopt an entirely new mode of communication, replacing familiar daily interaction patterns. This demands high levels of concentration and active practice. Despite these challenges, the learning atmosphere was dynamic and engaging. Parents and grandparents enthusiastically participated, volunteering to practice basic signs, while trainers and fellow participants provided detailed guidance and corrections. This collaborative approach fostered a supportive, encouraging, and inclusive learning environment.

The course was originally designed for 20 participants, but actual attendance reached 25 parents, reflecting strong interest and demand. With the parents’ active engagement and cooperation, the training was successfully delivered and received positive feedback, highlighting the genuine need among families to strengthen communication skills for supporting children with hearing impairments at home. Many sessions extended 10–15 minutes beyond the scheduled time, as participants continued asking questions and requested additional practice opportunities.

The success of the course was largely attributed to the dedicated team of trainers from Thuy An Rehabilitation Center. With many years of experience teaching sign language to children with hearing impairments and their families, the trainers demonstrated strong technical expertise alongside patience, empathy, and a deep understanding of families’ communication challenges. Given the limited duration of the course, the training focused on the most practical, everyday topics, enabling parents to easily remember, practice, and apply the skills in daily life.

Completing four intensive training courses within less than one month demonstrates the effective coordination and close collaboration between RTCCD and Thuy An Rehabilitation Center, while also reflecting the strong demand from families for practical skills to support their children’s developmental journeys.

Following the in-person courses, the two centers will continue to offer online classes, allowing parents to learn and practice at home. In addition, community-based parent clubs will be established to create safe spaces for parents to share experiences, learn from one another, and provide mutual support while caring for and accompanying children with disabilities.