Honoring Faith and Language: Working with Muslim Immigrant Families of DHH Children 

Presented by: Hands United

Date & Time: Monday, 10/13/25 from 9:00 am – 11:00 am PST

Location: This event is virtual. 

About the Event: Honoring Faith and Language: Working with Muslim Immigrant Families of DHH Children is a 2-hour professional development workshop designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools to better support Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children from Muslim immigrant families.

Led by Samira Duale, founder of the Silent Horn Foundation and author of the first Somali Sign Language dictionary, this workshop explores the intersection of language, culture, and faith in shaping the experiences of Muslim immigrant families. Participants will gain insight into culturally responsive practices and learn strategies for creating inclusive environments that honor both linguistic and religious identities.

The session will be conducted in American Sign Language (ASL) with English interpretation available, making it accessible to a wide audience. Attendees will receive 0.2 CEUs for their participation. This workshop is for anyone who interacts with the Deaf Muslim community.

This 2-hour workshop, led by Samira Duale—Founder of the Silent Horn Foundation and author of the first Somali Sign Language dictionary—offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of how to effectively support Muslim immigrant families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children. By the end of the workshop, participants will have:

• Increase Cultural Competence
• Develop an understanding of Muslim cultural and faith practices that may shape family experiences and decisions for DHH children.
• Deepen Awareness of Language Access
• Learn about the role of signed languages—including Somali Sign Language—in supporting identity and communication within immigrant families.
• Build Trust with Families
• Gain tools and strategies for creating respectful, collaborative relationships with Muslim immigrant parents and guardians.
• Identify Barriers and Solutions
• Explore common challenges immigrant families of DHH children face (educational, linguistic, systemic) and strategies for reducing barriers.
• Strengthen Advocacy Skills
• Understand how to support families in navigating schools, service systems, and community resources while honoring their cultural and faith identities.
• Professional Growth
• Earn CEUs while improving skills for working effectively with multilingual, multicultural, and faith-diverse communities.
• Apply Learning to Practice
• Leave with actionable steps and practical resources to integrate into interpreting, teaching, or advocacy roles.

Join Our Newsletter!

Be the first to know about inclusive events, accessibility tips, and community updates. Each month, we spotlight local and national events featuring ASL interpretation, live captioning, audio description, and multilingual access. Sign up to stay in the loop!