We're proud of what we have done so far. More to come!

We are proud to continue our support of Westchester Medical Center’s Cochlear Implant Center in Valhalla, NY.  Its current program, Bridging the Gap, is part of an ongoing series of educational initiatives designed for families of children with cochlear implants and the professionals who care for them.  This innovative, two-tiered program provides caregivers with essential information about available resources to help them support children with severe hearing loss. It also educates community professionals involved in the care and support of children with cochlear implants.  During 2026, the program expanded its focus to include teens and tweens, helping them develop self-advocacy skills, build confidence, and take an active role in managing their hearing needs and navigating their hearing journey. In part, as a result of our grant, the program will continue into 2027.   The program operates under the guidance and supervision of Katrina Stidham, MD.  We are confident that Bridging the Gap will continue to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the families, young people, and professionals it serves. See https://www.westchestermedicalcenter.org/cochlear-implant-center

We are proud of our program, the Access and Empowerment Program at NY Eye and Ear.   The program fills an important need in that it supports the translation of therapy materials and language specific resources into certain non English languages needed for children who are deaf or hard of hearing in the local NYEE community, typical Lower Manhattan, NYC.  It's a three year grant, completing its third year during 2026.  

Partners in Hearing’s grant to Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech in New York City (Clarke New York) supports the School’s Birth to Age Three Program, an early intervention service for infants and toddlers who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Through this program, parents and other primary caregivers of children newly diagnosed with hearing loss discover how to enrich their baby’s life with meaningful sound and language through individualized sessions, while also connecting with other families in a supportive environment. 

A portion of our grant helps Clarke New York bridge the gap between public reimbursements of their services and their actual costs. In so doing, we ensure that Clarke can employ an adequate number of speech-language therapists to support the Birth to Age Three Program, and that no family will be waitlisted or denied service due to a lack of staffing.    For more about the school, see  http://www.clarkeschools.org

WMC's Grant Request with regard to its Bridging the Gap Program for Children with Cochlear Implants and their Families

WMCHealth’s Cochlear Implant Center’s mission is to improve the lives of individuals with hearing loss through the gift of sound. Central to that mission is education. Through our collaboration with Partners in Hearing over the past several years, we have successfully helped educate many providers in the Greater Hudson Valley community who care for children with cochlear implants. We have fostered a sense of community and increased self-advocacy among many of our young cochlear implant patients and families as they navigate the path to hearing.

For the last three years, WMCHealth, with the support of Partners In Hearing, has offered an educational program for community providers to better understand the specific needs of children with hearing loss and cochlear implants. These  seminars are directed toward audiologists, speech-language pathologists, early intervention specialists, psychologists,

teachers of the hearing impaired, special education teachers, and general education teachers. They have a shared goal of improving our colleagues' overall knowledge in the community and better equipping them to help every child reach their full potential. The feedback we have received from the conference has been overwhelmingly positive. This now-annual event is greatly appreciated by our colleagues in the community and is considered by many to be the necessary bridge to help close the gap in understanding of the educational support needs of children with cochlear implants.

In addition to the professional event, we have hosted patient/family events to bring our cochlear implant recipients together, support self-awareness and advocacy among patients and families, and give children and youth with implants an opportunity to enjoy one another's

company.

The current 2026-2027 grant request seeks funding to continue “bridging the gap” through ongoing professional education,targeted direct patient education,and social support networking.

The overall program has two goals:

Goal 1: Annual Professional Educational Seminar

The first goal is to host a recurring annual professional educational seminar, with the next event projected for late fall 2026 with a focus on Children with Cochlear Implants and Other Disabilities.Plans for Upcoming Conference. Based on attendee feedback from previous conferences, we plan to further enrich the 2026 - 2027 event to include:

• In-depth case presentations

• Attendee directed case troubleshooting

• Speech and language practical guidelines and case examples

• Case studies

• Research updates

• Breakout sessions for audiology and speech pathology

• Targeted breakout sessions for different skill levels and disciplines

Goal 2: Bridging the Gap-Supporting Teens with Cochlear Implants

The second portion of the requested grant for this year, in “bridging the gap,” would be directed toward small, patient-engaged events for our pre-teen and teen population. There has been a significant need identified over the past year for a support/self-advocacy group for this patient age group.The proposed goal is to establish a monthly support group for youth, led by a counselor who can guide activities that help the group get to know one another and explore some of the

challenges young people with hearing loss face.

Requested funds would be used for the social worker/counselor's consultation fee to lead the group and for food and activities throughout the year.

We funded the entire  budget.

We address an issue at St Francis by funding a Saturday program for caregivers.  To augment the care and therapy provided to the children by the School during the school week, we defray costs enabling caregivers to visit the School on selected Saturdays.  During these sessions, they learn more about how they can continue therapy at home and interact and share experiences.  

The Family and Child Empowerment Saturday Program brings students and families together for a day of learning, recreation, and connection. Open to all St. Francis de Sales School for the Deaf students and their families, the program offers adapted recreational activities for students while caregivers participate in educational workshops, support groups, and family learning experiences designed to strengthen communication and confidence at home.

From sports and the arts to ASL classes, language-rich activities, and opportunities to connect with other families, Empowerment Saturday creates a welcoming space where every family belongs.

Please visit the School's website:  https://sfdesales.org/