Deaf Center at Boston University Wheelock College

Deaf Center at Boston University Wheelock College Evidence based resources for families to ensure all deaf children have access to language.
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Our bilingual/bicultural approach to understanding communication with respect to the Deaf makes our program unique. We take a leadership role in the development of new knowledge and high quality training to help Deaf individuals and their teachers develop to their fullest potential.

Guess who’s coming to BU?! 👀Jonaz McMillan, co-author of Monster Hands, joins us on September 16 for the Deaf World Lect...
09/01/2026

Guess who’s coming to BU?! 👀

Jonaz McMillan, co-author of Monster Hands, joins us on September 16 for the Deaf World Lecture Series. He’s taking us behind the book: where the idea came from, how it actually got made, and what he’s working on next.

Then stay for the signing. Bring your copy or grab one at the event, and meet Jonaz in person.

Doors open at 6:30 PM. The event starts at 7 PM.

📍 Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA

💬 Want in? Comment RSVP below, and you’re on the list.

39 states. Over 700 bills. One reading method for every child.Deaf children do not learn to read the way hearing childre...
08/31/2026

39 states. Over 700 bills. One reading method for every child.

Deaf children do not learn to read the way hearing children do. Phonics ability explains about 11% of reading skill in deaf readers. Deaf early signers often read more efficiently than equally skilled hearing readers, recognizing whole words instead of decoding sound by sound.

Deaf kids can become expert readers. They just get there by more than one path.

Comment READING for the full paper.

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06/04/2026

New study! Surprising result!

Deaf and hard of hearing kids with hearing caregivers learn almost the same signs as those with deaf caregivers.

The difference? Exposure.

Fewer total signs, especially less common ones but everyday signs are nearly the same.

More exposure. More repetition. More ASL.

That’s how language grows.

Comment CAREGIVER to receive the full publication!
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06/01/2026

🚨 Gene therapy for deafness has been approved!

The headlines are focused on hearing levels. We’re focused on something else: language access.

For decades, we’ve measured success by asking whether technology improves hearing. But hearing and language are not the same thing.

A child can have improved hearing levels and still struggle to access language. As this new gene therapy moves forward, we should be asking a bigger question:

Will deaf children have the language access they need to thrive? Because if we’re going to call a treatment effective, the standard cannot stop at sound.

Watch the video to learn the 3 concerns we believe are missing from the conversation.

👇 Comment GENES, and we’ll send you more information!
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It’s graduation weekend in Boston! 🎓We are thrilled to celebrate our graduates as they walk across the stage, earn their...
05/17/2026

It’s graduation weekend in Boston! 🎓

We are thrilled to celebrate our graduates as they walk across the stage, earn their degrees, and prepare to do groundbreaking work in deaf education and sign language research.

We are so proud of all they have accomplished and cannot wait to see the impact they will make in their communities and beyond.

Once a BU Terrier, always a BU Terrier! 🐾

05/15/2026

We're headed to Austin! 👀

Is your deaf child between 12–36 months? We'd love to meet them! Our BU research team is studying how deaf children learn to navigate the world in a visual mode.

We will be there from June 2 to 8. Families can get up to $100 + a book or toy for their little one.

Email us at [email protected] or tap the link in bio to reserve your slot! https://sites.bu.edu/lavalab/tx/

Today we celebrated a record-breaking ASL Honors Society (ASLHS) induction ceremony with 27 incredible inductees! 🎉The A...
05/06/2026

Today we celebrated a record-breaking ASL Honors Society (ASLHS) induction ceremony with 27 incredible inductees! 🎉

The ASLHS ceremony recognizes college students for their exceptional achievement in ASL studies and their dedication to Deaf culture. We are so proud of each student honored today and grateful to our faculty who joined in the celebration.

A special thank you to Emily Glenn-Smith for leading and organizing such a meaningful event. What an amazing day of community, achievement, and celebration!

Only 5 days away. DEAF SPACE is coming.Featuring Will Fertman, author and parent of a deaf child, with a special book si...
04/20/2026

Only 5 days away. DEAF SPACE is coming.

Featuring Will Fertman, author and parent of a deaf child, with a special book signing you won’t want to miss.

Featuring Patrick Graybill, a legendary Deaf storyteller, actor, and poet.

Featuring a special performance by Andrew Bottoms & Megan Malzkuhn.

An evening of storytelling, language, and community.

The best part? It’s FREE!

The event is this April 24th! Doors open at 6:30 PM with the show beginning at 7:00 PM!

It will be at the George Sherman Union (GSU) Metcalf Ballroom on Commonwealth Avenue at Boston University!

Go to the link in our bio to RSVP or RSVP here: https://deafcenter.bu.edu/event-details-registration/deaf-space-1

04/09/2026

What if one night could remind you why Deaf community matters?

This is more than an event. This is Deaf Space.
A night of storytelling, connection, and community, you will feel.

Featuring Will Fertman and Patrick Graybill, with a special performance of “Hearing Knows Best” by Andrew Bottoms and Megan Malzkuhn.

And yes…… it’s FREE.

The event is on April 24th! Doors opens at 6:30 PM, with the show starting at 7pm!

The event will be at the George Sherman Union (GSU) Metcalf Ballroom on the 2nd floor!

Come be part of something bigger!

Comment ‘RSVP’ to save your spot!
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04/06/2026

Artificial Intelligence is already reshaping sign language: avatars, translation, and captioning.

The question isn’t if change is coming. It’s here.

What does it mean for our communities? What does it mean for the interpreters, the educators, and accessibility?

Are you excited? Are you curious? Are you unsure?

This is a new era. And we all have a role in shaping what comes next.

This April at Boston University, we’re bringing people together with deaf leadership at the center.

The conference is full, but the conversation isn’t.

👇 Tell us what YOU think about AI in the comments!

💬 Comment “TECHNOLOGY” to stay up to date about the conference and beyond.
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2 Silber Way
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