The Early Literacy Development Initiative (ELDI) is designed to foster early literacy skills with young children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  The initiative encompasses programs designed to assist parents in their desire to encourage a love of reading with their young children. The Early Literacy Development Initiative services are encouraged to be listed on the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) or the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). 

ELDI consists of two programs serving families newborn to age eight throughout Colorado.  These programs are the Integrated Reading Project (IRP) and the Shared Reading Project (SRP).

The Integrated Reading Project (IRP):

The Integrated Reading Project is designed for families who have chosen a simultaneous communication approach (signing and voicing at the same time) or to utilize spoken English or other spoken languages.  The IRP instructor teaches the family how to read to their child using signs in English word order.  The Integrated Reading Project Instructor includes reading activities in the individualized in-home sign language instruction program.  Each month, a new storybook is loaned to the family so they can continue practicing their signs as they read to their child.  The family's Colorado Home Intervention Program (CHIP) Facilitator uses the same book to work on language expansion, auditory skills, speech, and cognitive skills.  This project is designed for children birth through five years of age and their families.   

The Shared Reading Project (SRP): 

The Shared Reading Project teaches parents and other family members how to read stories to their child who is deaf using American Sign Language (ASL).  Each week, a deaf tutor visits the family and demonstrates how to read a children's book using ASL.  The tutor leaves a "family book bag" with a book, a videotape for practice, and an activity sheet with the family for a week.  SRP was developed by the Laurent Clerc Center at Gallaudet University based on research regarding effective reading practices with children who are deaf and hard of hearing.  This project is designed for children birth through eight years of age.

Additional Program offered:

Family Literacy Packs (FLP)

Family Literacy Packs (FLP) are kid-sized backpacks full of fun, literacy activities available for loan to families and programs throughout Colorado!  FLP was developed for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing to support literacy development and to show children that reading is fun!  Each pack is designed around a theme.  Packs can be borrowed for use by individual families or programs serving students who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Packs have also been developed for students who are visually impaired or blind.  Materials are provided in Braille.