Marilyn Curley
Director of Early Childhood Programs
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Infants, Toddlers and Twos

RSD's Family Instructional and Resource Service Team (FIRST) provides for the needs of infants, toddlers, and twos with hearing loss from birth to age three. The FIRST team delivers a comprehensive array of services, using curriculum materials from the SKI-HI Institute and The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos. We work with children and families in their homes and at our Early Childhood Center (ECC) on the RSD campus.

Our home-based program (birth to 18 months) includes:

• Support for families as they adjust to the unique communication and socialization needs of their children
• Regular visits from specially certified preschool and speech teachers who work with children using all types of assistive devices including cochlear implants
• One-to-one contact with RSD's American Sign Language (ASL) instructors
• Opportunities to network with deaf and hard of hearing members of the RSD learning community who may provide:
  • Access to other role models who are deaf and hard of hearing
  • Insights into Deaf Culture
  • Assistance with learning ASL
  • Discussion of their life experiences

Our center-based program (18 months through age 3) includes:

• Two or three half- or full-day sessions per week. Sessions gradually increase as the child grows and develops
• Age-appropriate instruction, creative play and time for socialization from specially certified preschool, speech and ASL teachers
• Continuation of home-based services, as needed