Connect Society

Connect Society was founded in 1963 as the Association for the Hearing Handicapped.^[7][8] In 2002, Hilda Marian Campbell wrote that "Edith Preston... worked with the Association for the Hearing Handicapped, now known as the Connect Society, to open the first preschool for Deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the basement of Cross of Christ Church in 1962."^[9]

From 1979 until 2010, Connect Society was located at 11342 127 Street in the Northwest Edmonton neighborhood of Inglewood.^[10][11][12] Since 2010, Connect Society has been located in the Alberta School for the Deaf.^[13] Connect Society received a $35,000 grant from Desjardins in 2018.^[14]

Connect Society provides support for Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals through six different programs: (1) Community Living Support Services, (2) Early Childhood Services, (3) The Early Intervention Program, (4) Family Support Services, (5) The In-Home Sign Communication Program, and (6) The In-Home Sign Communication Program. Community Living Support Services offers residential assistance ranging from occasional help to 24/7 care, with staff trained in American Sign Language, Deaf culture, and assistive technology.^[15][16][17] Early Childhood Services provides preschool and kindergarten education for children aged 3 to 6, integrating English and ASL to develop language, social, and academic skills.^[18] The Early Intervention Program supports children from birth to 3.5 years old who are Deaf, hard of hearing, or have Deaf parents, focusing on communication and cognitive development.^[19] Family Support Services helps families affected by hearing loss navigate education, healthcare, and social resources. The In-Home Sign Communication Program provides ASL instruction tailored to each family’s needs. Additional literacy programs support early literacy for children and reading and writing skills for Deaf adults.

• Alberta School for the Deaf