The Regional Early Acquisition of Language (REAL) Project South is a collaboration between Gallaudet University’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center and Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB). We are headquartered at AIDB in Talladega, Alabama and Decatur, AL. The REAL Project South serves eleven states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. In addition to these states, we also work within the two U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Our Mission: Our mission is to connect deaf and hard of hearing children with their communities through language and meaningful engagement. Our work is to ensure every child has access to language and that each family has the resources they need to thrive. In partnership with early intervention providers and the medical community, we aim to build a network of tools and resources that help children grow and transition successfully to school and beyond.

What We Offer: REAL South provides comprehensive services and resources, including:

• Family Engagement: Language-focused programs, mentorship, and access to learning materials to support families at home.
• Professional Training: Tools and workshops for early interventionists, educators and healthcare providers to support language acquisition and early development.
• Community Connections: Collaborative efforts with local organizations to build support networks for children and families.