ASL for CMV

We are the Wiedel family and we're hosting a fundraiser to support The National CMV Foundation! When we found out our daughter, Anna, was born deaf and had gross motor delays due to a common virus I caught while pregnant called congenital CMV (cytomegalovirus), we had no idea that congenital CMV causes more childhood disabilities than any other infectious disease. CMV is also the leading cause of non-genetic hearing loss and deafness in the world. After Anna was diagnosed, many of our friends and family members wanted to start learning sign language, but they didn't know where to start. Others wanted to know more about CMV, but they didn't know where to go. Now you have a chance to do both!

Your donation will grant you access to up to 12 introductory sign language videos taught by Sara Frederickson, a Deaf friend of ours who's an American Sign Language (ASL) instructor. It will also support The National CMV Foundation: a nonprofit dedicated to educating communities about the risks of congenital CMV, especially among pregnant women. Children born with CMV often have hearing loss or significant developmental disabilities including language delays, blindness, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy. CMV also causes stillbirth and early infant death. Unfortunately, 91% of women in the U.S. have never heard of CMV, and don't know that they can prevent CMV by avoiding the saliva and urine of their toddlers while pregnant. CMV remains the most common and disabling infection among babies born in the U.S. The Foundation's primary mission is to eliminate CMV infection within the next generation.

Any amount you choose to donate, no matter how small, is greatly appreciated! 

Links to your ASL videos will be emailed to you on or before February 14! Thank you!