Welcome CID Families
We’re happy you’re here. Find special notes in this area and be sure to watch for texts from the school.
- March 31 @ 8:15 am - 8:45 pm
The CID annual science fair for our Early Childhood Center and Primary Department is Friday, March 3...
The CID annual science fair for our Early Childhood Center and Primary Department is Friday, March 3...
Individual Support
CID’s family support specialist, Patti Hoffman, has been part of the CID family since 2005. She has a background working with children and families through many years as both an educator and a counselor. She was previously the lead teacher in CID’s Anabeth and John Weil Early Childhood Center discovery room, bringing daily fun and learning our students with hearing loss ages 3 to 5. She has a master’s degree in counseling, and uses her skills to help families navigate the emotional journey of parenting a child who is deaf or hard of hearing.
In addition to facilitating social and educational programs, Patti facilitates activities such as a monthly Morning Mingle, in which parents meet after drop-off to share their experiences. She also helps research and connect CID families to community resources. Whether a family needs food or energy assistance, is searching for a pediatrician or mental health provider or is looking for assistive technology or car seat safety information, Patti is dedicated to helping them meet their needs.
Patti keeps a useful list of linked resources for families, including CID’s school calendar, forms and policies, hearing device troubleshooting tips, local and national sources of assistance and more.
Group Support
Hearing from the Heart
The CID Hearing from the Heart program offers regularly scheduled opportunities to get to know other families and help one another learn about parenting a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. Meetings are facilitated by a CID parent educator and our CID family support specialist. Each gathering features time to connect with other adults and talk about a meaningful topic chosen by the group.
After-school care is provided free of charge for all CID early childhood center and primary school students. Each meeting begins at 5pm with dinner. At 5:30, the children and their siblings enjoy fun activities with a CID school counselor and Washington University graduate students while the adults go to another room to discuss the topic. Meetings end at 7pm, giving you plenty of time to get home and finish your evening.
Some previous group topics
- Up-and-coming hearing technology
- Deaf culture and the history of deaf education
- Fun apps to promote language
- Executive function and hearing loss
- Mindful parenting
- Q&As with other parents, teens and young adults who are deaf and hard of hearing
Family Connections
Social Events
CID knows the importance of meeting and socializing with other families of children who are deaf and hard of hearing. We offer a variety of social events throughout the year. Past events include CID Night at the Magic House, CID Night at the Ballpark, CID Night at the History Museum, a Birth to 3-Year-Old Playdate, Popsicles on the Playground and Family Game Night. These fun family gatherings are opportunities for parents to get to know one another, for children to engage together in fun activities and for other family members to be around children who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Young Alumni Club
It’s also important for friends to stay connected with one another after leaving us, so we invite our graduates to participate in the CID Young Alumni Club. Coordinated by our CID school counselor, Pat Wasserman, this group meets several times a year and provides children with opportunities to socialize and have fun with their CID friends.
Top 5 activities to promote listening and auditory development in young children
Listening skills are the foundation for developing spoken language. We asked educators of young children who are deaf/hard of hearing their favorite activities to promote listening and auditory development.
