What is the Guide By Your Side™ Program?

Guide By Your Side™ (GBYS)  is a program for families with infants and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.  GBYS gives families who recently learned of their child's hearing loss an opportunity to meet with another parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child.  The program is free to all Michigan families with children up to age 6. 

The Guide By Your Side ™ Program can provide:

• Unbiased information about communication options.

• An ongoing supportive relationship with another parent of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing.

• Answers to questions and information about local, statewide and national resources.

• Collaboration with Early On ®, Intermediate School Districts and other service providers.

• Information about other parent support opportunities.

What are Regional Parent Guides?

Parent Guides understand the unique needs of infants and young children who are deaf or hard of hearing.  Currently, there are wonderful parents in our program who have been trained to provide support to families throughout the state. Parent Guides use varying approaches to communication from American Sign Language to Auditory-Verbal.  Parent Guides are trained to offer unbiased information and support.  

What Parents are Saying…

"Finally, someone understood what I was feeling because she'd felt this way, too. After I met Susan, I   just started reconnecting to the world again."

"This program is the best resource!"

"Talking to another parent who's ‘been there' is very helpful."

How can I make a referral to the Guide By Your Side™ Program?

• Enrolling in the Guide By Your Side Program is easy, confidential and free.

  Parents:

• If you are interested in having a Parent Guide visit you please:

              1) Call   517-335-8955 and ask for a brochure to be sent to you.

              2) Print the brochure and mail to:

                    MDCH/EHDI/GBYS
                    P.O. Box 30195 
                    Lansing, MI 48909

                   Or fax to 517-335-8036.

        Professionals:

• If a family that you work with is interested in meeting a Parent Guide you can make a referral by:

  1) Faxing the Audiologist/Medicalform and check the box for Guide By Your Side referral (the family's consent is needed in order to share information related to the child's hearing loss with the Guide By Your Side Program) 517-335-8036.

  2) Printing off the  Guide By Your Sidebrochure and having the family sign it and either fax 517-335-8036 or send it to:

Guide By Your Side Program
MDCH/EHDI
P.O. Box 30195
Lansing, MI 48909

A Parent Guide will try and contact the family within 24 hours to schedule a visit.

Resources

GBYS Fact Sheet