The emphasis, however, should be more on the goal and the effort shown than on the results. Have high expectations but acknowledge struggles. Having high expectations for our young people helps them to expect good things of themselves and to believe that they can achieve their goals. Often, sharing of your own personal struggles to achieve can help deaf and hard of hearing children and young adults to understand that they can overcome obstacles to their success. Confront use of alcohol or other drugs when it happens.
Many young people try alcohol and other drugs.
Even though we may expect experimentation to occur, we must confront any and all use of mood altering chemicals by children and adolescents. However, avoid power struggles about proof of drug use. Tell what you have seen or heard and share your concern. Many times, we fail to trust out instincts when we should. Individuals provides chemical dependency treatment services to deaf and hard of hearing persons ages 16 years and above.