Fertman nails the field guide to raising a deaf child with wit, tenderness, and evidence-based information for nearly every occasion.

I wish this book was handed out every family of a d/hh infant in the hospital; it could change everything.

—Sara Nović, professor of Deaf studies and author, Mother Tongue and True Biz

An incredibly timely book, packed full of wisdom, compassion and humor.

Absolutely essential for all parents of Deaf children.

—Dr. Paddy Ladd, author, Understanding Deaf Culture and The Unrecognized Curriculum

This bold and brilliant guide is a must-read for anyone raising or working with deaf and hard of hearing children.

Filled with practical advice, advocacy tips, and a healthy dose of irreverence, The Deaf Baby Instruction Manual empowers families and professionals to create linguistically rich, inclusive environments from day one.

—Dr. Leah C. Geer, director, Early Intervention Studies Graduate Program, Gallaudet University

Will’s candid, no-nonsense style is well complemented by his sensitivity…

The quick start guide at the beginning is a clear, concise rundown of the most important points parents need to know while they’re still reeling and sleep deprived.

And his recommendations for how to sign with a baby are right on! He explains clearly how to capture and hold a baby’s attention and take advantage of ASL’s rich visual expression to get language going and to bond with your child through the process of learning ASL.

—Dr. Razi M. Zarchy, Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Cal State Sacramento

Every parent of a deaf or hard of hearing child needs this book, and so does every speech pathologist, audiologist, educator, and pediatrician.

Families often find themselves thrown into what Fertman calls “some truly hellacious bureaucracy,” with a kid who urgently needs them to make some really high stakes choices. Too often they either get very little guidance or, worse, get terrible advice and pseudoscience from misguided professionals.

Having found his way through it as a parent, Fertman’s book offers families an easy-to-read guide that cuts through the chaos, giving families essential, evidence-based tools they need to help their children thrive. They say babies don’t come with an instruction manual, but now deaf and hard of hearing babies do.

—Dr. Naomi Caselli, co-director, The Deaf Center at Boston University

Funny and relatable…

[Will’s book] will doubtless help ease some of the worries hearing parents have about their deaf child. However, most importantly, it is accurate. Will has the unique ability to explain concepts in a way that is comprehensible and digestible. The information in this guide is not only on-the-mark, but vitally important for hearing parents to know. It is a must-read for anyone who has just been told that their child has any degree of reduced hearing.

—Dr. Kimberly Ofori-Sanzo, speech-language pathologist and founder of Language First

★★★★★ – Essential reading for parents of deaf and hard of hearing children

—Jason Gillespie, deaf educator, via Amazon

The kind of resource families should be getting from day one

—Stacy Eilbert, deaf educator, via Facebook

I literally could not put it down!

—Caitlin Stueve, speech language pathologist, via Instagram

★★★★★ – A funny, compassionate guide to raising a deaf child

—Patricia Geller, reader, via Goodreads

I’ve always wished there was a comprehensive, tell-the-full-story instruction book for parents of deaf children.

Now we have one.

—Mark Drolsbaugh, author of That Deaf Kid and Madness in the Mainstream, via Facebook

★★★★★ – The BEST RESOURCE for families of deaf children

—K. Hickman, speech language pathologist, via Amazon