Fostering Joy

• Founded on the belief that fostering joy is important to all families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing (and the D/HH leaders and professionals who support them), across cultures and backgrounds
• Focused on nurturing parent/caregiver--child relationships
• Inclusive of all ways of being deaf or hard of hearing
• Centered on parent and caregiver strengths
• Attentive to delightful interactions with children who are D/HH
• Respectful of differences in how joy is experienced, demonstrated, and described across diverse contexts and by different people
• Based on the value of active and intentional collaboration between families, professionals, and deaf and hard of hearing leaders
• Cognizant that joy is contagious and that joyful approaches can be adopted/cultivated by all involved in supporting families with children who are D/HH
• Respectful of the challenges families can face raising children who are D/HH and acknowledges that finding joy can be effortful.
• Committed to transforming the supports of children who are D/HH and their families from deficit-focused to strength-based
• Informed by science-based and evidence-informed practices
• Led by the Fostering Joy Core Team, which includes diverse representation of parents, professionals, and D/HH leaders
• Supported by the Fostering Joy movement of Joy Ambassadors who agree with the Fostering Joy mission and desire to spread these ideas to others

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