Why Come To Camp?
In 1966, R. Orin Cornett, Ph.D., invented Cued Speech to address the problem of low literacy rates among the deaf. Cued Speech is a simple and finite system that allows the deaf or hard-of-hearing person to have a clear and unambiguous visual representation of all the sounds of a spoken language. (At Cue Camp Virginia we teach Cued English, but Cued Speech has been adapted for over 60 different languages.) A family that cues to a deaf child can provide complete access to the language spoken by the family, regardless of the degree of the child’s hearing loss. Research has shown that the family provides the most influential language model in the child’s early life. Cueing in the home has been proven to provide a deaf child with the greatest understanding of language. This is the key to an ability to read, write, communicate and reach his or her full potential. Access to language also contributes greatly to self-esteem and the development of age-appropriate social skills. At Cue Camp Virginia, families and professionals can learn the entire system of Cued English in one weekend, without the distractions of everyday life. Participants can gain confidence and be supported by others who are on the same journey, and see first-hand the successes of families and professionals who have been using Cued Speech for many years. Camp provides an opportunity to learn about the many benefits of Cued Speech, to learn how to advocate for Cued Speech as a way to meet your child’s academic needs, and to receive educational and emotional support for the efforts of the family and/or professional.
