Language is fundamental to quality of life. Language fosters ideas and allows us to build on concepts that shape our education. Imagine if you weren’t able to share your feelings, express an idea, or seek to understand and learn. That is the reality for millions of deaf and hard of hearing children in developing countries who do not have a means to communicate or access to a basic education.

We are committed to changing that. Our programs are designed to help the world’s deaf and hard of hearing children acquire the language skills and education they need for life success.

We customize and continually strive to improve our work to meet the needs of those we support. Our core focus areas are:

TEACHER TRAINING: Teacher Training includes in-country workshops, professional development initiatives, exchange programs, distance learning, and mentorships for teachers of the deaf and medical professionals in foreign countries.  The training is lead by international experts in audiology, speech language pathology, early intervention, auditory-verbal therapy, and deaf education. 

HEARING AID DISTRIBUTION: Our Hearing Aid program delivers quality hearing devices to children in developing countries and helps facilitate ongoing audiology and education support. A $100 donation to this program will cover the cost of one hearing aid and two rechargeable batteries for a child with hearing loss in a developing country.  In 2011, donations to this program will fund hearing aids for children with hearing loss in Vietnam whose families cannot afford them. Our team's audiologists will ensure proper fitting of the hearing aids. Please see our Make A Difference Page for details on how to make a contribution.

OUTREACH/PUBLICITY: The Foundation fosters partnerships with like-minded organizations, both domestic and international, to educate communities about the implications of hearing loss in infants and children and how to address them. 

CONSULTATIONS: Consultation services are provided to government officials, partner NGOs, and academic representatives who wish to establish educational resources and hearing health care programs to meet the needs of hard of hearing and deaf infants and children.

RESEARCH: The Foundation supports universities and research organizations that work in the area of speech and hearing sciences to collect empirical data about hearing loss in developing countries that can be used to advance practices in deaf education.

MEDIA COVERAGE ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS

ENT & Audiology News Magazine (pdf)

American Speech and Hearing Assoc. ASHA Leader

University of Washington Columns Alumni Magazine

Evergreen Speech and Hearing Newsletter (pdf)