About NASLECE
Vision Statement
The National ASL and English Bilingual Consortium for Early Childhood Education is a non-profit organization of professionals who are dedicated to the development, management, and coordination of ASL and English bilingual early childhood programs for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families.
Mission Statement
To promote the development, management, and coordination of ASL and English bilingual early childhood education for children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families.
Goals
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To develop an ASL & English bilingual home and school based curriculum and assessment tools.
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To develop educational materials and resources for use in ASL & English bilingual early childhood classrooms that promote linguistic, cognitive, communicative, and cultural competence.
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To disseminate resources that demonstrate the benefits of ASL & English bilingual early childhood education.
Belief Statements
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Children can naturally acquire American Sign Language and English for daily learning and literacy through bilingual early childhood education principles and practice.
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Children need to establish early communication with their parents and families, develop their cognitive abilities, acquire world knowledge, and communicate fully with the surrounding world.
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Children need to develop social/emotional and cognitive abilities that are critical to timely development in all areas.
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Spoken English, encouraged and incorporated specific to an individual child’s characteristics and goals, is essential for achieving potential in this area of development.
