The Deaf Family Literacy Academy (DFLA), directed by The Alfano Center, is a program under the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy that serves deaf children from birth to age 12 and their families in need of assistance with language, literacy and communication in American Sign Language (ASL), at no charge.

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The program, through The Alfano Center, includes:

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• Home visits by a mentor
• Language and reading instruction for your child
• American Sign Language (ASL) instruction for parents
• Parent support groups
• Parent and Child Together activities
• Signing Stories @ Your Library once per month in both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties

DFLA Program Components

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Adult Education

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Raising the education level of parents helps them gain motivation, skills and knowledge needed to become employed or pursue further education or training. Note: In most family literacy programs, Adult Education focuses on improving the parents’ English skills. In our program, Adult Education focuses on improving the parent’s American Sign Language skills.

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Parent Education

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Focus rests on training parents to be their child’s primary teacher and full partner in their education. Parents acquire knowledge and skills that empower them to be actively involved in their child’s learning.

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Child Education

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Increasing the language and literacy skills of children that better prepares them for academic and social success in school.

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Parent and Child Together (PACT) Time

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Providing the role models and structured situations for positive Parent and Child Together time empowers parents in their role as the primary teacher of their own children. This also strengthens the learning relationship between parent and child and helps parents feel more comfortable in school settings.