You have the right to be a parent first, to love your child, enjoy, play, and guide your child. You have the right to grieve, to receive emotional support, and know that all feelings are normal.

You have the right to a sense of competence/confidence about raising your child. You are the parent and know your child better than anyone.

You have the right to be an expert on your child and regarded as a professional. You are your child’s best advocate/ally.

You have the right to communicate fully with your child.

You have the right to see your child as a whole child – a child first and the hearing loss second.

You have the right to share your child’s progress and achievements with others with a genuine sense of pride.

You have the right to receive unbiased, thorough information about communication and education possibilities.

You have the right to meet other families who have raised a child who is deaf/hard of hearing, and adults and older children who are deaf/hard of hearing, if you so choose.

You have the right to demand the kind of services you believe would best suit your child and family.

You have the right to receive program services sensitive to your family’s culture, language, faith, values, and needs.

You have the right to tell professionals and educators what you really feel about the job they are doing and to demand they respect your opinions.

You have the right to designate service providers – to have more than one choice.