COEUR d’ALENE — For hearing parents, it can be heartbreaking to learn that their child is deaf.

"If they’re going through that first initial appointment and they find out their child’s deaf, they go through the grieving process," said Cortney Peters, an education specialist for the deaf and hard of hearing with the Idaho Educational Services for the Deaf and the Blind. "They’re learning how to raise a child who is deaf and who has a hearing loss. They’ve never met a deaf adult who has hearing loss and they don’t know what to expect, what their future will look like."

Being the only deaf family member can be difficult, as well. Peters, who has complete hearing loss in one ear and moderate in the other, is the only one in her family with a hearing impairment and has helped her family and community learn how to communicate with someone who is mostly deaf. She uses American Sign Language often.

Challenges like these, as well as success stories, were shared during the Walk4ASL in Ramsey Park on Saturday, where about 30 attendees of all levels of hearing and signing ability attended to promote and celebrate the deaf culture. They enjoyed activities in the park as well as a 1-mile walk from Ramsey Park to the Kroc Center and along Ramsey Road. Many wore blue "Star Wars"-style T-shirts that read, "May the ASL (in hand signing) be with you."

“For the deaf community, it’s really nice for them to be able to take part in events to be able to get together and talk about their struggles with anything related to deaf and hard of hearing," said Peters, of Hayden.

This was the second year the Walk4ASL took place in Coeur d'Alene, serving as an opportunity for education and interaction for the deaf and hearing. Alan Wilding, president of the Idaho Association of the Deaf, said (via American Sign Language translator Brittany Johnson of Spokane) that funds raised at the event go to deaf mentors, who work with parents of deaf children to help them with communication.

"There’s so many who show up to their schools, and they can all communicate, but there's so many that show up to schools about 5 or 6 years old and they have no language," Wilding said. "From the earnings we’re getting here we’re putting toward that and deaf mentors so they can work with all the people in the schools that are deaf. The more money we get to put into that, the more connection. That’s a big goal for this event."

He said when the event returns next year, people should remember that they don't have to be deaf to show up.

"You just have fun at the event, walk around, see the games, it’s fun. And there’s different information," he said. "We just really hope that people come and have fun at the event. It’s for a good cause."