TOP 10 Things for Parents to Do with Deaf Children:
1. Device on during ALL walking hours!
2. Create an opitmal listening environment
3. Talk to the ear and teach the brain
4. Narrate all day long
5. Model desired language-have them imitate you
6. Repetition of desired language (say it 3 times or more)
7. Expand their language level/Talk just above where they are
8. Auditory bombardment for desired speech sounds-"P-p-p-push"
9. Acoustic highlighting: Emphasize what you want them to attend to
10. Believe! Trust the process
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
In case you are reading this because you have time on your hands... here is one more letter to write: (this is from the AG Bell newsletter)
Movement on EHDI Act of 2007
Originally enacted in 2000, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act provides funding for early hearing detection and intervention programs nationwide. The U.S. Congress is currently considering reauthorization of this landmark legislation. On Thursday, March 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the EHDI Act of 2007 (H.R. 1198). It will now go on the entire House of Representatives to be voted on sometime in the first two weeks of April. Email your member of Congress and urge them to vote for H.R. 1198! To find your member of Congress, click here.
Movement on EHDI Act of 2007
Originally enacted in 2000, the Early Hearing Detection and Intervention (EHDI) Act provides funding for early hearing detection and intervention programs nationwide. The U.S. Congress is currently considering reauthorization of this landmark legislation. On Thursday, March 13, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed the EHDI Act of 2007 (H.R. 1198). It will now go on the entire House of Representatives to be voted on sometime in the first two weeks of April. Email your member of Congress and urge them to vote for H.R. 1198! To find your member of Congress, click here.
Monday, March 17, 2008
Karl White asked some parents to write to the Public Education Appropriations Committee of the State Legislature. The following is my letter.
Dr. White is an incredibly accomplished person, especially in the field of early detection of hearing loss and education. This last fall he opened, with the help of some of the very best deaf educators in the country, a new school and training center for deaf educators in Logan. It is called Sound Beginnings. He wants to create a satellite school in Utah County. (I like to think that my not-so-subtle nudging has helped! Also Michelle A moved half of her family to Logan to participate in his program!) The Legislature approved the funding... stay tuned. I don't want to get down on USDB... but, how can we NOT get better facilities in Utah County? I'm curious to see what kind of snafoos or hang-ups, explanations they can come up with. These plus 25 year trailers have to go NOW.
Dear Legislator,
As a parent of 2 deaf children I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of parents and educators who support USU's request for an ongoing appropriation of $300,000 to support the expansion of superior early childhood deaf education throughout the state. I am especially concerned about the deaf children in Utah county, who attend school (USDB) in plus 20 year old trailers.
The current state of most deaf education in Utah, fractured and uninspired, is especially troubling because with modern technology these children can achieve so much more.
My son is 7 and is mainstreamed in a regular first grade class. This is the good news. The bad news is that the school’s speech therapist describes his speech problem as “severe.” The diagnostic evaluation at the University of Utah, where he is currently receiving speech therapy twice a week, marked his speech development at 4 years 9 months. His story is not unique. He could be completely at his age level if he had received the comprehensive aural rehabilitation and oral education that Sound Beginnings is now providing deaf children in Cache county.
I have traveled and seen other schools throughout the country, hoping to provide better services for my children . I have also met with the USDB administration and also the State of Utah’s DCFM in hopes of finding a solution in Utah County. I was overjoyed when I heard that Karl White was creating a program to teach the teachers of the deaf and also could take my then 3 year old daughter into that program. After trying every possible way to move our family of 7 to Logan, or have her stay with another mother during the school week I realized that we couldn’t take advantage of Sound Beginnings. The thought of her, and us, spending such a crucial time of her life so far away from her family broke my heart.
It is clear that Sound Beginnings is not only cutting edge deaf education but also motivated to help children with permanent hearing loss succeed as never before.
Please vote in favor of the funding request from Utah State University when it comes up before the legislature.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Hailey Meyer Liechty
Dr. White is an incredibly accomplished person, especially in the field of early detection of hearing loss and education. This last fall he opened, with the help of some of the very best deaf educators in the country, a new school and training center for deaf educators in Logan. It is called Sound Beginnings. He wants to create a satellite school in Utah County. (I like to think that my not-so-subtle nudging has helped! Also Michelle A moved half of her family to Logan to participate in his program!) The Legislature approved the funding... stay tuned. I don't want to get down on USDB... but, how can we NOT get better facilities in Utah County? I'm curious to see what kind of snafoos or hang-ups, explanations they can come up with. These plus 25 year trailers have to go NOW.
Dear Legislator,
As a parent of 2 deaf children I’d like to add my voice to the chorus of parents and educators who support USU's request for an ongoing appropriation of $300,000 to support the expansion of superior early childhood deaf education throughout the state. I am especially concerned about the deaf children in Utah county, who attend school (USDB) in plus 20 year old trailers.
The current state of most deaf education in Utah, fractured and uninspired, is especially troubling because with modern technology these children can achieve so much more.
My son is 7 and is mainstreamed in a regular first grade class. This is the good news. The bad news is that the school’s speech therapist describes his speech problem as “severe.” The diagnostic evaluation at the University of Utah, where he is currently receiving speech therapy twice a week, marked his speech development at 4 years 9 months. His story is not unique. He could be completely at his age level if he had received the comprehensive aural rehabilitation and oral education that Sound Beginnings is now providing deaf children in Cache county.
I have traveled and seen other schools throughout the country, hoping to provide better services for my children . I have also met with the USDB administration and also the State of Utah’s DCFM in hopes of finding a solution in Utah County. I was overjoyed when I heard that Karl White was creating a program to teach the teachers of the deaf and also could take my then 3 year old daughter into that program. After trying every possible way to move our family of 7 to Logan, or have her stay with another mother during the school week I realized that we couldn’t take advantage of Sound Beginnings. The thought of her, and us, spending such a crucial time of her life so far away from her family broke my heart.
It is clear that Sound Beginnings is not only cutting edge deaf education but also motivated to help children with permanent hearing loss succeed as never before.
Please vote in favor of the funding request from Utah State University when it comes up before the legislature.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Hailey Meyer Liechty
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Mikki O'Connor Joins J2H Board
Mikki O'Connor, Associate Dean of the Utah Valley University School of Business has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Journey to Hear Foundation from the early stages of inception. Now we would like to announce that she has joined our board of directors. She will be a valuable asset to our foundation and we look forward to working with her.
Mikki O'Connor, Associate Dean of the Utah Valley University School of Business has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Journey to Hear Foundation from the early stages of inception. Now we would like to announce that she has joined our board of directors. She will be a valuable asset to our foundation and we look forward to working with her.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
It has taken me too long to get this announcement put together! Hope you have saved the date and are able to come. It will be at our recently painted blue house.
Thanks to Katri Haycock for the fantastic, and fun, drawings & design! Click on the image to enlarge it.
Please call Christopher for the address 362.1966 or for any other questions.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Summer fun has taken its toll on blog posting promptness... sorry about that. These are some photos from J2H's fund raising kick-off. It was in a spacious, beautiful room at Noah's in Lindon. The huge projection screen had our lovely new logo up all night. The preliminary plans by Gerald Meyer were up and studied especially by the USDB crowd. The Paxtons and Archibalds brought balloons and the food was catered by China Lily, also in Lindon. The Liechtys provided the table decor and dessert. Katri Haycock designed the Logo and invitations. Thanks to everyone for their generosity!
Michelle Archibald and Hailey Liechty explained the history of the Journey to Hear Foundation, what has been accomplished so far and why the color green is everywhere. Green is the color of hope, therefore it is the Journey to Hear Foundation's color; what is hoped for the future of young deaf children living in Utah County, namely better access to the latest services and technology, and more modern, safe and beautiful facilities for the children and their families in a timely fashion.
The new Superintendent for USDB, Tim Smith, attended and said many encouraging words and told a touching story about one teacher's positive influence on the lives of many children and how he helped her accomplish a goal to take the children on a field trip of a life time... to Sea World in California!
It was good to see friends, therapists, audiologists, administrators and especially parents that night. Thanks to everyone for joining in! It was a fun evening and for our first fund raiser it is good to report: we came out ahead!
We are planning more events in the future, some simply social, others with a fund raising goal.
I look forward to hearing from you. Please leave a comment and I'll reply much faster than I post!
Hailey Liechty
Friday, July 27, 2007
VISION STATEMENT
Our vision is to build a beautiful, acoustically sound building that would serve as a preschool and center for services (auditory testing, various therapies) for children who are hearing impaired and their families. A place to gather.
The children served would be ages newborn to approximately 8 years old, or when they are successfully mainstreamed into elementary school. A place to learn and grow.
It would house a preschool with approximately six classrooms (including space for a hearing preschool) and office space for therapists and administrators. It would also house a library for reference materials for families who have children recently diagnosed with hearing loss. There
would also be a display area for hearing aids, cochlear implants and samples of other assistive devices. A place to discover what new technology is available to help modern deaf children.
An audiology suite would be located there so that children could be tested frequently and hearing aids and cochlear implants could be programmed or mapped for more accurate hearing and faster developmental progress. A place for timely neurological development.
An auditorium is central to this plan for the children to perform and for parents to gather and learn from professionals. A place for support, education and communication.
Our vision is to build a beautiful, acoustically sound building that would serve as a preschool and center for services (auditory testing, various therapies) for children who are hearing impaired and their families. A place to gather.
The children served would be ages newborn to approximately 8 years old, or when they are successfully mainstreamed into elementary school. A place to learn and grow.
It would house a preschool with approximately six classrooms (including space for a hearing preschool) and office space for therapists and administrators. It would also house a library for reference materials for families who have children recently diagnosed with hearing loss. There
would also be a display area for hearing aids, cochlear implants and samples of other assistive devices. A place to discover what new technology is available to help modern deaf children.
An audiology suite would be located there so that children could be tested frequently and hearing aids and cochlear implants could be programmed or mapped for more accurate hearing and faster developmental progress. A place for timely neurological development.
An auditorium is central to this plan for the children to perform and for parents to gather and learn from professionals. A place for support, education and communication.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
WISH LIST
for the new school year, fall 2007
USDB (Utah School for the Deaf & Blind) is looking (because parents are asking for it: they are not so keen on forward thinking about facility needs) for a TEMPORARY SPACE for the pre-school for fall. It needs to be:
• centrally located (there are children that live all over Utah County)
• space for 5-6 rooms (for classes, therapy and parent/teacher conferences)
• some play space
So far we have thought of a variety of spaces, strip malls, warehouses, old banks. USDB needs all the help it can get. :)
If you know of anything please email me at hailey@journeytohear.org
for the new school year, fall 2007
USDB (Utah School for the Deaf & Blind) is looking (because parents are asking for it: they are not so keen on forward thinking about facility needs) for a TEMPORARY SPACE for the pre-school for fall. It needs to be:
• centrally located (there are children that live all over Utah County)
• space for 5-6 rooms (for classes, therapy and parent/teacher conferences)
• some play space
So far we have thought of a variety of spaces, strip malls, warehouses, old banks. USDB needs all the help it can get. :)
If you know of anything please email me at hailey@journeytohear.org
Saturday, June 16, 2007
The Journey to Hear Foundation promotes the auditory/oral education of children in Utah County who are deaf or hard of hearing.
If you are concerned about the educational future of deaf and hard of hearing children in Utah County, please join us! This next Friday night, at Noah's in Lindon at 6:30.
Spread the word! Please invite Anyone/Everyone concerned with deaf children
Families with Deaf Children--especially Parents of newly diagnosed children
Grandparents
Extended Family
Pediatricians
ENTs
Potential Donors, financial and in-kind
Realtors
Teachers
Anyone else concerned with the education and development of deaf and hard of hearing children.
Please email me with questions and R.S.V.P.s hailey@journeytohear.org
If you would like printable invites, please email me and I'll email back a page of 4 up.
Friday, June 15, 2007
Welcome! You have found The Journey to Hear Foundation's blog! This has been a few years in the making. Hailey Meyer Liechty and Michelle Archibald have headed this up and now it is almost off the ground.
On Friday the 22nd of June, at 6:30 we will have a dinner and information sharing meeting at Noah's in Lindon.
You might be interested in this blog as well:
Chance to Hear
Do you know other blogs or sites that would help parents of deaf or hard of hearing children in Utah County? Please comment here or email me at hailey@xmission.com.
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