Hands & Voices - Board of Directors 2016

Back Row (left to right) Jill Kelly, Tina Childress, Alison Rollins, Karla Giese, Alejandra Ullauri,

 Jeanne Carlisle, Lynn Wood and Melissa Joyce

Front Row seated (left to right) Pauline Brannigan, Carrie Balian, Andrea Marwah, Heather Poe and Jennifer Ehlers

Hands & Voices

Our Mission:

Illinois Families for Hands & Voices is a parent-driven, non-profit organization that supports families with children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing without a bias around communication modes or methodologies.

Our Vision:

We envision a world where children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing have every opportunity to achieve their full potential.

Our Motto:

“What works for your child is what makes the choice right.” ^TM

Contact Us:

• ilhandsandvoices@gmail.com
• 630-697-3544 (v/text)
• PO Box 9366, Naperville, IL 60567

Where we began…

Illinois Hands & Voices, legally known as Illinois Families for Hands & Voices was started by Karen Putz and a group of parents throughout the state of Illinois who felt that parent support was crucial to our families.  Our chapter started in Summer of 2004.

Who Are We?

• We are families with children who have all types of hearing loss.
• We use many different types of communication modes: Auditory Verbal, Auditory Oral, Cued Speech, American Sign Language, Signed English, Simultaneous Communication and Total Communication.
• We are deaf and hard-of-hearing adults.
• We are professionals.
• We are from every corner of the state of Illinois.
• We are united, because we are Hands & Voices.

Families can learn about the variety of resources and options available to them and how to access them. Through this network of resources, families can make informed decisions about their future in regards to educational options, the changing landscape of assistive technologies, and many other issues facing families with deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

Families within the same geographic region within the state can share experiences and information as they support each other. They will be given the opportunity to gain knowledge and direction from families who have faced the same challenges and choices.

Lynn Wood Presents at HEAR INDIANA Parent Education and Encouragement Session- September 24, 2016

Parent Education and Encouragement Session

Saturday, September 24th

from 9:00 - 12:00

Click HERE for registration.

This session will guide families to use Apps as interactive tools for Listening and Language Learning. There is no limit to the listening, language and learning possibilities available through apps. Apps are common tools in auditory verbal practices, clinics, schools and homes. If you own a device that runs apps, you have valuable resources at your fingertips (and at your child’s fingertips too!). 

I will present strategies to engage, extend and expand on apps designed to promote listening and spoken language. The session will provide parents with ideas for making connections with apps to meaningful conversations and experiences, strategies to consider, the pros and cons of using apps over traditional materials and how to integrate the benefits of both. Key factors in choosing apps will be discussed. 

I will share suggestions for “exploding” some featured apps through themes and with traditional books, songs, crafts, games and more. The format of the session will be interactive using iPad apps, hands-on materials and audience participation. If you have an iPad or tablet bring it to the presentation.

Professional and Parent Education Sessions

Friday, September 23, 2016,

from 7:00 - 5:00

Sensory Garden Playground

My grandson and I visited the Sensory Garden Playground in our town. Valor loved the Sound Garden best! (wink, wink) I even ran into two teachers of the d/hh which was a fun surprise. What an experience for all kids but a true treasure for Auditory Verbal families.

http://www.playforalldupage.org/ Sensory Garden Playground Initiative

Wheelchair accessible picnic tables 

One of my Auditory Verbal graduates who is entering her senior year in college stopped by yesterday. She was thrilled to find her handprint on the wall at the entrance to my office.

 Where did the last 20 years go? 

Leadership Opportunities For Teens in Denver at ‪#‎AGBELL2016‬.

My AV graduate Mat began therapy at eight-months-old and received services through middle school. Today he is a very well-spoken, confident leader with a bright future. Mat is front and center wearing the white and yellow. 

A few months ago Mat told me that the advocacy information and my words of experience I shared with him in middle school were right although, he didn't think so back then. Ha! I'm pleased Mat listened to my recommendation and attended LOFT in Denver at ‪#‎AGBELL2016‬. 

Leadership Opportunities For Teens is for high school students who are deaf and hard of hearing and use listening and spoken language as their mode of communication. LOFT is designed to develop or strengthen skills in individual leadership, teamwork, group dynamics, public speaking, and self-advocacy. It has always been a rewarding experience for teens from the AV Center of Wheaton. ‪#‎LOFTeens‬

One of Mat's Loft counselors is the daughter of the family who introduced me to Auditory Verbal therapy so many years ago. Here is the link to read my post, The Family That Paved the Way for Me Supporting Families of Children with Hearing Loss . Stacey was an amazing role model for Mat and the other LOFT participants.

 Mat and Stacey Lim, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A. 

Dr. Lim, a licensed audiologist, is an assistant professor of audiology at Central Michigan University. She was identified with hearing loss at the age of 10 months and was fitted with her first pair of hearing aids a month later. She received a cochlear implant at the age of 18. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the College of Wooster with a minor in German Language and Literature, she spent a year in Germany on a Fulbright Scholarship. When she returned to Ohio, Dr. Lim received her Au.D. from the Northeast Ohio Au.D. Consortium (NOAC) and her Ph.D. from Kent State University, with specializations in early intervention, pediatric audiology, cochlear implants, and educational audiology. Dr. Lim’s research specialties are literacy, cochlear implants, and aural rehabilitation.

Role Models and Celebrities at AGBELL 2016 in Denver, Colorado

Great role models, friendly celebrity stars atAGBELL 2016 Convention in Denver last week. #‎AGBELL2016‬. 

I enjoyed meeting and chatting with ‪#‎JonathanHutcherson‬ and his delightful Mom who competed in the 2016 Scripps National Spelling Bee, ‪#‎BrickReilly‬ a contestant on the 'American Gladiators', Season 2 and our own  ‪#‎CEO‬ Emilio,‪#‎NinaPoersch‬ on the 2015 cast of 'Survivor' and #JonathanHutcherson contestant in The Voice, Season 10, Team Pharrell. ‪#‎HearandTalk‬

Our AV Stars and the Celebrities 

Free GAME CHANGER downloads are now available!

Hello!

I was pleased to meet each and every one of you at my Inspiration Station at the 2016 AGBELL convention in Denver, Colorado. 

As promised, downloads for the Game Changer for Cochlear Implant Rehab for Teens & Adults are available. Live links can be found in the last gray box above.

If you are interested in being notified of future Game Changer downloads, opt-in by emailing Lynn@HearSayLW.com with a subject line of I Heart Game Changers!