Disney Animation's "Songs in Sign Language" debuts on Disney+ April 27, 2026, coinciding with National Deaf History Month. Three animated musical sequences have been reimagined in American Sign Language: "Beyond" from Moana 2, "The Next Right Thing" from Frozen 2, and "We Don't Talk About Bruno" from Encanto. For Deaf children whose first language is ASL, these represent the first time Disney has animated songs in their native language rather than simply adding captions.   How Disney Approached the Translation. The production team didn't translate English lyrics word-for-word. According to director Hyrum Osmond, a veteran Disney animator, the team "reimagined and choreographed lyrics into American Sign Language by emphasizing concepts and emotion rather than word-for-word translation." ASL has its own grammar and syntax. Facial expressions carry grammatical weight, not just emotion. A raised eyebrow can turn a statement into a question. The tilt of a head can mark a conditional clause. When you translate a song into ASL, you're working with a different linguistic structure entirely, not English mapped onto hands. Osmond explained the technical challenge: "In the majority of cases, we created entirely new animation. There were a lot of adjustments that we had to do within the animation to be true to the original intention." The Collaboration Behind the Animation. Disney partnered with Deaf West Theatre, a Tony Award-winning Los Angeles-based theater company, to bring authenticity to the project. Eight members from Deaf West performed the songs in ASL. DJ Kurs served as sign language artistic director,...

Disney's Songs in Sign Language Debut April 27

Your third-grader has moderate hearing loss and wears hearing aids in both ears. The audiologist said he's a good candidate for an FM system, so you requested one at the IEP meeting. The school agreed, ordered it, and now it sits in his backpack because his teacher forgets to wear the microphone. By the time he gets off the bus, he's exhausted from straining to hear all day. Or maybe your daughter is deaf and uses ASL. She has a qualified interpreter, but she sits in the back corner of the classroom where she can't see the teacher's face or the board when students are presenting. The interpreter is excellent, but the placement makes accessing visual information nearly impossible. Accommodations only work when they're implemented consistently and positioned correctly. Here's what makes a difference for students with hearing loss, and how to talk to teachers about what your child needs. The Accommodations That Matter Most. Not all accommodations carry equal weight. Some are foundational. Others are helpful but secondary. If you're working with a teacher who's never had a student with hearing loss, start with the accommodations that create baseline access.  Preferential seating isn't about being close to the teacher. It's about clear sightlines to the teacher's face, the board, and other students during discussions. For students who speech-read or use an interpreter, that usually means the front row, slightly off-center, facing the main instructional area. For students with hearing aids or cochlear implants, it means distance from noise...

Practical accommodations for students with hearing loss, from FM systems to visual alerts, and how to communicate needs to teachers.

Classroom Accommodations That Work for Students with Hearing Impairments

Your fifth-grader isn't getting a qualified interpreter. The one assigned to her classroom learned ASL through an online course last summer and struggles to keep up when the teacher moves between students. You've asked for someone certified, and the district says they're "working on it." Three months in, you're still waiting. Or maybe your third-grader with moderate hearing loss was placed in the general education classroom without an FM system, and the teacher keeps forgetting to wear the microphone. By the time he gets home, he's exhausted from straining to hear all day. You know something's wrong, but you're not sure what you can demand and what's just nice to have. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes specific protections for students who are deaf or hard of hearing, and they're legal requirements, not suggestions. Here's what schools must provide and how to make sure your child gets it. What IDEA Requires for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. IDEA covers all students with disabilities, but it includes language tailored to the needs of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The law recognizes that communication access isn't a bonus. It's the foundation of everything else. Under IDEA, your child's IEP team must consider:   Communication needs and the child's preferred mode of communication  Linguistic needs, including opportunities to interact directly with peers and staff in the child's language (whether that's spoken English, ASL, or another signed language)  Academic level and full range of needs,...

The specific IDEA protections that apply to deaf and hard of hearing students, including qualified interpreters and appropriate placement.

IDEA Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Public Schools

When a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, the first question most families ask is: how will my child communicate? What follows is often a flood of recommendations that don't agree with each other. The audiologist talks about cochlear implants and auditory-verbal therapy. The early intervention coordinator mentions total communication. A Deaf adult you meet at a family event speaks passionately about American Sign Language. Each person is certain their approach is the right one, and many families leave those conversations more confused than they arrived. This article walks through the major communication approaches for deaf and hard of hearing children: what each one involves, what the research shows, and what families need to know before choosing. No advocacy. No single path presented as best. Just the information that helps you make a decision grounded in your child's needs and your family's reality. What Communication Approach Means. A communication approach is the method your child will use to understand language and express themselves. It's the foundation for how they'll learn to read, participate in school, and connect with family and community. Some approaches prioritize spoken language. Others prioritize visual language. Some combine both. The approach you choose shapes the kind of support your child receives in early intervention and school, the professionals you'll work with, and often the community you'll become part of. That's why the decision feels big, because it is. But here's what audiologists and educators don't always say: many families adjust their approach as their child grows....

ASL, cochlear implants, total communication, oral approaches: understand all options to make an informed choice without judgment.

Communication Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: A Family Decision Guide

The Power of Early Intervention. Early intervention is key for children with hearing impairments. It can make a big difference in their development and future success. The earlier a child's hearing loss is identified and treated, the better their chances of developing language, speech, and social skills on par with their hearing peers. Early intervention typically includes hearing aids or cochlear implants to help the child access sound, along with speech therapy and other specialized services. Learn more about the importance of early hearing detection and intervention from the CDC. How Hearing Affects Development. Hearing is critical for speech and language development in young children. Babies start learning to communicate long before they say their first words. When a baby has hearing loss, it limits their exposure to sounds and voices. This can lead to delays in speech and language milestones. Hearing is also important for overall brain development. Lack of auditory stimulation in early childhood is linked to differences in brain structure and function. That's why identifying and addressing hearing loss as early as possible is so important. It gives the child's brain access to sound during the key window of auditory development. Identifying Hearing Loss. All babies should have their hearing screened before leaving the hospital or within the first month of life. This allows hearing loss to be caught and treated early. Signs of hearing loss in babies can include:  Not startling at loud noises Not turning toward sounds after 6 months old Not saying single...

Early intervention for hearing impairments is vital for language, speech, and social development, with parents playing a key role.

The Transformative Impact of Early Intervention for Children with Hearing Impairments

What is Hearing Loss? Hearing loss is a condition where a person's ability to perceive sounds and understand speech is reduced. It can range from mild to profound and may occur in one or both ears. Hearing loss affects people of all ages but is more common in older adults. There are different types of hearing loss, including conductive (problems with the outer or middle ear), sensorineural (damage to the inner ear or auditory nerve), and mixed (a combination of both). The causes can include aging, exposure to loud noise, infections, genetics, and certain medications. Symptoms of hearing loss may include difficulty understanding speech, frequently asking others to repeat themselves, turning up the volume on the TV or radio, and withdrawing from conversations. If you suspect you or a loved one has hearing loss, it's important to see a healthcare professional for an evaluation. Diagnosing Hearing Loss. If you think you might have hearing loss, the first step is to see your primary care doctor. They can examine your ears and do some basic hearing tests. If they suspect hearing loss, they will likely refer you to an audiologist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor) for more testing. A hearing test, also called an audiogram, is the main way to diagnose hearing loss. During this test, you will wear headphones and listen to sounds at different volumes and pitches. The results will show the softest sounds you can hear at each pitch. Other tests may include a physical exam...

Hearing loss impacts communication, leading to social isolation. Treatment varies based on cause and severity.

Understanding Hearing Impairments and Beyond

 Almost every school activity, including listening to teachers, interacting with classmates, singing along in music class, following instructions in physical education, etc, depends on the ability for students to process sounds and have a strong auditory system in learning. But what happens if this auditory system has deficits? Can a child still learn?    Does my child have Auditory Processing Disorder?    Auditory Processing (APD) is a very common learning disability and affects about 5% of school-age children. Auditory Processing can present itself with many different symptoms and behaviors. Often these behaviors resemble those seen with other learning challenges, like language difficulties, attention problems and autism. Most children with auditory processing difficulties show only a few of the following behaviors. No child will show all of them. However, any child who displays several of these symptoms should be carefully evaluated for auditory processing disorder.    Delayed speech   Persistent articulation errors   Abnormally soft, loud, flat, formal, or "pedantic" speaking voice   Difficulty conducting casual conversations   Difficulty reading or spelling due to problems discriminating word sounds   Difficulty following oral directions   Difficulty organizing behaviors   A tendency to appear quiet, distracted, or off topic during group discussions or to interrupt or blurt out answers   Long delays before responding to questions or instructions   Preferences for nonverbal tasks or a markedly higher performance IQ than verbal IQ   Difficulty taking notes...

APD affects about 5% of children, making it hard for them to differentiate sounds in language, impacting their learning and attention.

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

As a young child, Ann LeZotte was diagnosed as autistic because she banged her head. Eventually it was discovered that her head-banging was merely a response to the fact that she could not hear. Born prematurely and deaf, Ann also has trouble with lung function.  Starting off life like that seemed like a raw deal; however, Ann's deck of cards was stacked with having dedicated, smart parents. She was sent to the best of schools. She was "mainstreamed"into regular classrooms. Her father inspired her with the story of Helen Keller. She spent many hours contemplating the paintings known as Christiana's world by American painter, Andrew Wyeth. She came to know that being born deaf was not a tragedy; it made her special. It added to her other gifts. It gave her a certain élan, a steady dignity and a sense of self that many others lacked. In her early years, Ann's knife-sharp intelligence was her road-map to negotiate the ups-and-downs of loneliness, bullying and academic pressure. Being the only deaf student in a classroom of other bright kids took some quick-stepping. One year she went from being the "outcast" to being "the number one magic girl" by teaching her growing number of friends to finger-spell under their desks, thereby confounding the teacher and everyone else by their seemingly secret language. Talk about the art of texting! Ann was onto something before smart phones were even a twinkle in Steve Job's eye.    Today, Ann is forty-one years...

Deaf and bright, Ann LeZotte overcame challenges and became an author, inspiring others with and without disabilities.

Ann LeZotte and Julie Jack, a Deaf Heroine

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Special Needs
Articles

Disney's Songs in Sign Language Debut April 27

Classroom Accommodations That Work for Students with Hearing Impairments

IDEA Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Public Schools

Communication Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: A Family Decision Guide

The Transformative Impact of Early Intervention for Children with Hearing Impairments

Understanding Hearing Impairments and Beyond

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Ann LeZotte and Julie Jack, a Deaf Heroine

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Disney's Songs in Sign Language Debut April 27

Classroom Accommodations That Work for Students with Hearing Impairments

IDEA Rights for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students in Public Schools

Communication Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children: A Family Decision Guide

The Transformative Impact of Early Intervention for Children with Hearing Impairments

Understanding Hearing Impairments and Beyond

Auditory Processing Disorder in Children

Ann LeZotte and Julie Jack, a Deaf Heroine

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles