Empowering Families Through ASL: Accessible Language at Home

An ASL Class for Families of Deaf Children

We’re recruiting

!

Hello! Our names are Dr. Razi Zarchy and Dr. Leah Geer. Razi is a faculty member at Sacramento State in Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSAD), and Leah is the Program Director of the Early Intervention Studies graduate programs at Gallaudet University. (Let’s congratulate her on her new exciting role!)

Help us offer an ASL class for families with deaf and hard of hearing kids, right here at Sac State!

We got a grant through University Enterprises, Inc. to run an in-person, FREE cohort of our beginner-level Learn ASL at Home class for Sacramento-area families with deaf and hard of hearing children in the 2025-2026 academic year: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026.

We’re looking for Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSAD) and Deaf Studies students with a passion for working with deaf and hard of hearing students to help us with this project. 3 CSAD students and 2-3 Deaf Studies and/or Deaf Education students will be selected. Please read the information below thoroughly and complete an application if you would like to be contacted about participating!

Class location: Maryjane Rees Speech and Language Clinic in Folsom Hall

(7667 Folsom Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95826) at Sacramento State.

Day/time: Fridays from 1:00-2:15pm.

Dates (all are tentative):

Fall 2025 orientation: August 29, 2025

Class sessions: September 5 - November 21, 2025

Spring 2026 orientation: January 30, 2026

Class sessions: February 6 - April 24, 2026

Note: This class will be taught in ASL and English with ASL-English interpreters.

Curious? Interested?

Apply to participate here:

CSAD student application (application closed)

Deaf Studies/Deaf Education student application (application closed)

Applications are due April 30, 2025 <-- deadline has been extended until all spots are filled!

 

Information for CSAD Students:

    • CSAD major seniors or graduate students who will have completed CSAD 146: Introduction to Clinical Issues & Methods by May 2025

    • Must be available on Fridays at 1pm during the Fall 2025 semester.

    • 3rd-semester students in assessment clinic may participate - we will work around your clinic schedule whenever possible

    • Students in 4th-semester internships likely will not be able to participate due to scheduling

    • No minimum requirement for ASL skills (beginner-level skills acceptable)

  • Current resume

    Application essay (~2 pages) including:

    1. Reasons for your interest in this project

    2. Experience working/volunteering with children and their families (include experience with disabled or deaf children, if you have any)

    3. Description of 1-2 of your future goals after graduation (may include plans for engaging in the deaf community and/or working with deaf and hard of hearing children and their families)

    • Receive pre-class training on ASL at Home and parent coaching in facilitative language techniques and supporting families with deaf and hard of hearing children

    • Enroll in CSAD 299 (1-unit course) associated with this project in Fall 2025 and/or Spring 2026. Students may participate for 1 or 2 semesters.

    • Students will each teach at least one facilitative language technique to the whole group. Throughout the class, all students will lead small-group discussions and practice on the technique of the week

    • Attend weekly ASL class and participate in language instruction

    • Meet with Dr. Razi Zarchy every two weeks

    • Maintain a biweekly reflection journal

    • Optional additional opportunities to participate in research related to this project

 

Information for Deaf Studies/Deaf Education Students:

  • Deaf Studies majors or minors who have passed DEAF 154 (ASL 4) with a C or higher before Fall 2025

  • Current resume

    Video essay in ASL (no more than 5 minutes) describing the following:

    1. Reasons for your interest in this project

    2. Experience with childcare, if any

    3. Description of 1-2 of your future goals after graduation (may include plans for remaining engaged in the deaf community and/or working with deaf and hard of hearing children and their families)

    • Receive pre-class training on ASL at Home (provided by the instructors) and child development and safety (2-hour free training here - participants will submit the certificate as proof of completing the training)

          •    Enroll in DEAF 199/EDSP 299 (2-unit course) associated with this project in Fall 2025 and Spring 2026

          •    Provide onsite childcare to the deaf, hard of hearing, or hearing children of the parents and other family members attending the class

          •    Develop and submit lesson plans with age-appropriate activities aligned with what the families are learning in class

          •    The childcare room will be next door to the classroom, so parents will be easily accessible if needed

          •    Students may check out toys and activities from the clinic supply room

          •    Meet with Dr. Leah Geer every two weeks

          •    Maintain a biweekly reflection journal

          •    Optional additional opportunities to participate in research related to this project

NOTE: All costs for the requirements below will be reimbursed by the instructors through grant funding.

(Do not spend any money to complete these requirements until we have confirmed your acceptance into this project)

Requirements for all students:

  • Note: CSAD students have completed these requirements for their CSAD 146 course. All students will need to upload proof of completion.

  • All Sac State required vaccines in alignment with Sac State’s vaccine policy:

  • Annual TB test, Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR), Meningococcal ACWY (16-21 years), & Hepatitis B

  • The WELL at Sac State provides vaccination services. Book a vaccine appointment with Student Health and Counseling Services through Patient Portal or call 916-278-6461. If you do not have insurance, you may be eligible for a patient assistance program to help cover the cost of the vaccine.

  • CPR​ (child and adult) by the American Heart Association

    • We recommend the Basic Life Support (BLS) blended learning course. It includes 2 components: online HeartCode BLS (cost: $36) and in-person BLS Provider (cost ranges from $55 to $125 depending on location)

  • Background check through Castlebranch - follow the CSAD Background Check policy to complete it. Cost: $42.75 + $1.99 service fee

  • HIPAA training (details coming soon)

To apply:

  • Complete the application above. The instructors will follow up with you to let you know if you were accepted to the project and to provide information about training and other paperwork. Applications are due Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 11:59pm. <— Deadline has been extended until all spots are filled!

  • If you have any questions, please contact Razi Zarchy at razi.zarchy@csus.edu or 916-245-0327 (voice available, text preferred)