Happy Hands Education Center

PROJECT PURPOSE

Happy Hands Education Center is a licensed and accredited early childhood education program for children who are deaf, hard of hearing or with other communication disorders. We provide child care, therapy, education, parent resources, and community education and we do so without creating undue financial burden on the parents as much as possible. Hearing loss affects 3 to 6 births in 1000 in Oklahoma and nationally. During the pandemic families have struggled to meet financial responsibilities and as a center it has been especially difficult to attract new and retain qualified teachers and child care workers. Expenses have risen for utilities, maintenance, food, and supplies. This project would focus primarily on attracting and retaining qualified staff as well as assistance with the increases in operations.

EVIDENCE

Happy Hands is the only full time, child care licensed, accredited early childhood center for deaf and hard of hearing children in at least northeastern Oklahoma. We serve ages birth to six but the critical age is birth to three. Without early intervention and full access to language from qualified staff, these children will face delays in their educational progress throughout their school years and most likely be underemployed or unemployed. In addition for parents to remain employed they are seeking care for their special needs children that understands and can work with their special needs. Evidence of the need for early intervention can also be found at www.deafchildren.org and https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/hearingloss/treatment.html as well as many other sites.

POPULATION DESCRIPTION

Children who are deaf or hard of hearing and children with communication disorders have been impacted by the lack of appropriate education and care. While many children switched to virtual or distance education, this has not been possible for the youngest and for those with communication disorders. Masks, zoom meetings, and long periods away from qualified teachers has negatively impacted their communication development some of which cannot be recouped. Parents of the young deaf children are mostly unable to communicate with their child. The whole family is impacted. A deaf child is already isolated by lack of language opportunities; the pandemic further isolated them, delayed their necessary treatments and therapies, and caused financial hardships for their parents. Teachers who are specialized in working with deaf children also were unable to remain in the classroom due to their own families' needs during the pandemic.

PERFORMANCE MEASURING

Measurement for project performance would be done through payroll, utility, and grocery and/or other operating records. In addition student progress is measured twice annually with research based assessments for communication/language, cognitive development, physical development and physical development. Qualified staff are required for the children's education and for the assessments. Enrollment records and staff attendance records will be collected as well to measure the project performance.

ONGOING INVESTMENT AMOUNT

$

ONGOING INVESTMENT DESCRIPTION

None

ONGOING INVESTMENT REQUIRED

Able to continue operation without additional funding from the State of Oklahoma