Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Payne.
Hi Laura, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am a native Houstonian. My elementary school had the Deaf Education program for the district and I instantly became best friends with many of the Deaf students, despite the language barrier. I picked up sign language as fast as I could – playing with them during recess, watching their teacher sign in our classroom, going on special field trips, and joining the Sign Choir in 3rd grade.
I went to college for my undergraduate degree where I majored in Deaf Education. That is where I formally studied American Sign Language (ASL), learned from Deaf professors, and spent time shadowing teachers at Texas School for the Deaf which was just a few miles away. I then went to grad school, getting my master’s degree in Education of the Deaf.
I became a classroom teacher in the Deaf Education program in Fort Bend ISD (known as the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). I taught 3-year-olds through 4th graders during my time there and loved my students dearly.
After my daughter was born in 2018, I resigned from the classroom and joined a local moms’ group. One conversation lead to another, and before I knew it, I was teaching almost 20 moms sign language!
My passion for the Deaf culture and ASL, now combined with my identity as a mother could not have happened at a more perfect time. I have since taken my skills to social media, and redesigned my courses to be all digital products.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t think anything about building a business is described as a smooth road. Everything I have created, designed, built, and executed has been while raising babies.
Solopreneurship, as well as creating a business around social media, is full of learning curves. Gaining traction, nurturing my community, and learning how to build a website and manage multiple business platforms is lots of trial and error. What worked 2 months ago is no longer successful, friends are growing at different rates, and there is a lot of “noise” to shift through.
Having big dreams while also having babies at home with you full time takes a lot of prioritization, patience, and time management. My children come first, and then I squeeze as much as I can into nap times, some early mornings, and a few days a week of Mother’s Day Out.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Laura Payne Co?
My mission is to better educate parents about the importance of using ASL signs when learning sign language for their babies and toddlers for early communication skills. American Sign Language is the native language of the Deaf culture, which should be honored and respected.
I also teach parents one very important piece of the puzzle that is often missing in many “baby sign language” resources: the effective techniques and strategies that will successfully lessen frustrations and lead to more bonding in their homes. When it comes down to it, knowing the signs themselves will only get you so far. Understanding HOW to use them with your young child is the key to success!
All of my courses for parents, such as Look Who’s Signing Now, are digital courses. You can start them at any time, go at your own pace, and refer back to them as needed. It’s not about a vocabulary list by age, but rather all about having your child at the center. I have broken it down into very manageable steps, so parents are confident and successful!
I also provide in-service trainings for early childhood centers and programs, such as daycares and Mother’s Day Outs. Having families and childcare facilities working together is very important and beneficial to the young ones. These can be in person, a live webinar, or pre-recorded.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
I hope to be able to work with more families, schools, and new parent organizations. There have already been lots of shifts and trends within the online space, and I’m curious about what lies ahead. Whatever it is, I’m eager to learn, adapt, and continue to be an expert parent actively seeking for support.
Pricing:
- Digital Courses starting at $27
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.laurapayneco.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybaby.signs
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mybabysigns.laurapayne
- TikTok: www.tiktok.com/mybaby.signs
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/mybaby_signs
Image Credits
Lauren Holub Photography
