We're proud of what we have done so far. More to come!
We fund an education and advocacy program at Westchester Medical Center
Our latest program is at the Cochlear Implant Center of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla NY, entitled Educational Advocacy Learning Series for Parents & Professionals. The innovative program provides essential information for caregivers about available resources that may be called upon to assist them in helping a child who is severely hearing impaired. It is under the guidance and supervision of Katrina Stidham, MD. We are confident that it will be successful. See https://www.westchestermedicalcenter.org/cochlear-implant-center
New York Eye and Ear Infirmary
We are proud of our newest 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 beginning in 2024.
We Support Clarke's Program for Late Identified Children and Support its new tVisit Program
Clarke School for Hearing and Speech is a well known school in NYC for teaching children who are hearing impaired, including those profoundly deaf with cochlear implants. Consistent with our Mission, we support a program that provides extra care to "late identified" (meaning post age 3) children having been or needing cochlear implantation. Late identification presents a serious neurological challenge so these children need extra attention to catch up to their peers. Through Clarke, we also provide direct child LSL therapy and parent coaching through a new tVisit Teleservices Program during which the school supplies caregivers with information and and guidance to help the child at home. Home based support is critical - from reading, playing and speaking. And if some extra equipment is needed, it will be on hand at the School. It all leads to the child's success in the mainstream. For more about the school, see http://www.clarkeschools.org
Enhancing LSL Skills at St Francis de Sales School for the Deaf
SFDS' goal is to enhance the communication tools of students using Listening and Spoken Language (“LSL”) - in addition to ASL (signing) - as their primary communication language and mode for both students with and without implants. This is a new program and is worthy of our support and is well underway. Please visit the School's website: https://sfdesales.org/