Parent-Infant Program (PIP)
Established in 1952, the Parent-Infant Program (PIP) offers a unique combination of services for families with infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing. A nationally recognized program, PIP serves families living in King and Snohomish Counties.
Testimonial
"Many thanks for a lifetime with memories of first beginnings and a future with happiness, opportunities and, best of all, lots of optimism!"
- Parents of a PIP graduate
Our Services
Home Visits
Home visits are the cornerstone of our program. Home visits provided by PIP professionals are designed to support deaf & hard of hearing children and their families. Home visits are provided by early childhood educators who have specialized training in speech, language, auditory, cognitive, social, emotional, and fine and gross motor skill development in children with hearing loss. Home based services include formal ASL instruction for the entire family and involvement in the Shared Reading Project.
Parent Support Group
The Parent-Infant Program at HSDC is unique because of its emphasis on Deaf Culture, providing deaf role models, and a number of deaf staff. The parent support group provides an opportunity for families to discuss any concerns and experiences with other parents of deaf children and deaf adults who have unique experiences to share.
Communication Playgroups / Sibling Playgroups
Playgroups provide an opportunity for deaf and hard of hearing children, their siblings, and adults to interact in a language-rich setting with an emphasis on visual and auditory communication in group and individual activities. The professionals who facilitate the group are fluent signers and experienced with young children.
Audiology Services / Speech Therapy
Having a range of integrated services under one roof is one of the unique strengths of HSDC. Families who attend PIP may choose to receive speech therapy or occupational therapy from our Speech, Language & Literacy program. Our Audiology & Hearing Aids services include hearing evaluations for all ages.
Lending Library
We have a number of resources to offer through our lending library of books, videos, and CDs that focus on Deaf Awareness, enhancing communication, and issues facing deaf children and their families.
Transition to Preschool
Under Washington State law, your child is eligible for school (special education services) at the time of his or her third birthday. Most PIP graduates enroll in a preschool program for deaf and hard of hearing children offered in the Edmonds, Seattle, or Highline school districts, which host the largest programs locally. Others enroll in local communication classrooms, the Northwest School for Hearing-Impaired Children (a private school in north Seattle), or smaller programs in other school districts.
Additionally, HSDC now offers a Rosen Family Preschool as part of our own continuum of services, involving all of the same family-based components as PIP. Any eligible child transitioning out of PIP has the option of continuing in our preschool program.
Where your child attends school depends on a variety of factors, including your home school district's practices, the degree and extent of your child's hearing loss, the type of environment and communication you desire, and your family's beliefs and preferences.
Six months before your child's third birthday, we will partner with your FRC to begin to prepare for the transition to school. Together we will develop the transition plan, which will include such activities as: contacting your home school district to make your child a "Focus of Concern", covering information about your legal rights, learning about IEPs (Individual Educational Plans), and observing/evaluating one or more of the school programs mentioned above.
Once you have enrolled in a preschool program, we would like to celebrate your child's third birthday at PIP. You are welcome to bring a special birthday snack and we will conduct a graduation ceremony, including an official diploma and graduation hat. We will talk with children about riding the bus and going to school. This is our way of providing some closure for children and celebrate this big event.
Putting your three year old on a school bus those first few days is always difficult, but remember that you have a lot of say in how this transition process works for your family. It may help to know that 99% of three year olds quickly adapt to preschool and beg to get on that school bus! Let us know how we can accommodate you during this time.
You will not be “cut off” from PIP when your child turns three. You and your parent-infant specialist may arrange to continue periodic home visits as part of the transitional period. And, you are welcome to participate in parent support groups whenever you like - many parents do return to check in and share their experiences with this next phase of life.
Funding
PIP is primarily funded by United Way and federal, state, county and school district early intervention funds. There is no charge to families for this program. Supplementary services such as audiology and speech-language therapy are billed through insurance or Medicaid if possible.
Contact Preschool & Early Learning
Hearing, Speech & Deafness Center (HSDC)
Artz Communication Center
1625 19th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
Direct 206.388.1300
Voice 206.323.5770
Videophone (Voice to Video) 206.452.7964 / 866.410.3363
TTY 206.388.1275
Fax 206.388.1301
Email education@hsdc.org / contact
Resources
View Video of a PIP Success Story
