{"id":62,"date":"2022-01-05T11:08:18","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T19:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/accessiblebcactstandards\/?page_id=62"},"modified":"2026-07-24T13:25:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T20:25:09","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/deafandhardofhearing\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What’s the engagement about?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) is seeking input to help inform the services provided through an MCFD service agreement for early language services. These services support language acquisition and language development for children ages 0 to 5 with hearing differences, and their families, in B.C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timeline: <\/strong><\/mark>February 9 to April 3, 2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Home<\/h1>\n

Engagement update – July 24, 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to everyone who participated in the public engagement. We are pleased to share that all input has been summarized into a What We Learned Report<\/a> available in both English and ASL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Go to the What We Learned Report<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Engagement update – June 22, 2026  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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From February to April 2026, the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD) and Province of B.C.’s Citizen Engagement team asked families and interested parties for input about Early Language Services in B.C. for children who are Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing, ages 0-5, and their families. The scope of this engagement is focused on MCFD-contracted early language\/ early intervention services that families may access after their child is identified with a hearing difference or as Deaf or hard of hearing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ministry of Citizens’ Services is drafting a \u201cWhat We Learned\u201d report from data collected through 1:1 parent\/guardian interviews; focus groups with early language professionals, service providers, Deaf, Deafblind and hard of hearing representatives and allies; and an online survey. They are finalizing the report and will release it soon. Early findings show unresolved tensions about services. These require more discussion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spur Communication is the third-party facilitator that led the spring focus groups. The Ministries have asked Spur to convene a Technical Advisory Group that will meet for one all-day summit in July. This meeting: <\/p>\n\n\n\n