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California Hands & Voices

Non-judgmental PARENT TO PARENT support that honorS each family’s unique journey

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Category: Family Stories

Our members are diverse and we thank the families below for sharing their unique journey with us

By Jen Jordan

Posted on: August 1, 2025 August 1, 2025 Written by: Cora Shahid
Briefly Introduce Your FamilyWe’re a family of three living in San Diego. I’m originally from NJ and moved in San Diego 10 years ago, and Andy moved to San Diego in 2014 due to military orders. Today, I work in…
Continue reading “By Jen Jordan”…

By Rubie Lopez

Posted on: August 1, 2025 August 1, 2025 Written by: Cora Shahid
Briefly Introduce Your FamilyWe are the Lopez family from southern California. Both Dad and I are in our early 20’s. Mom’s family is hispanic, so Spanish is spoken at the home regularly. It’s been a challenge teaching Remy three languages…
Continue reading “By Rubie Lopez”…
Graves Family

The Graves Family

Posted on: February 24, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Andre, Janell, Korbin, Remington, and Vivian Hello! We are the Graves family from sunny San Diego. We are an active family of 5. Andre and Janell both work as an analysts for the State of California. We are proud parents…
Continue reading “The Graves Family”…
Nokes Family

The Nokes Family

Posted on: February 24, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Erin, Jeff, Amelia, and Casey We are the Nokes Family. We feel incredibly fortunate for our two wonderful children, Amelia and Casey. Jeff works in high-tech and Erin works as an audiologist. Amelia spent a significant part of her first…
Continue reading “The Nokes Family”…
Vijay Family

The Vijay Family

Posted on: February 24, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Vijay, Nandini, Ved, & baby sister We are Vijay family. We moved to Los Angeles from India 5 years back for work. My husband Vijay is software engineer and me (Nandini) homemaker. After almost 6 years of our marriage our…
Continue reading “The Vijay Family”…
Family with Son

The B Family

Posted on: February 23, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Hi we’re the B.’s! Jump to Polish version Our son was identified as being Single Side Deaf (he has a profound sensorineural loss on one side, normal hearing on the other) at six weeks old via ABR, after failing his…
Continue reading “The B Family”…
Lopez Family

The Lopez Family

Posted on: February 11, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Adriana, Carlos, and their children Our journey begins before either of our children were born. In fact, our journey began before any of us were born. I (Adriana), was born into two worlds:  the Deaf world and the hearing world.…
Continue reading “The Lopez Family”…
Herrera Maqueda Family

The Herrera/Maqueda Family

Posted on: February 11, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Analy & Lizzy Our family Herrera & Maqueda, my husband and I have two daughters. Analy our oldest is hearing and Elizabeth (Lizzy) our youngest is Deaf. When Lizzy was born she failed the new born screening test twice. We…
Continue reading “The Herrera/Maqueda Family”…
Trakhman Family

The Trakhman Family

Posted on: February 11, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Diana, Alex, Phillip, and Nickolas We are a Trakhman family. Diana is a registered nurse and Alex is self-employed. We are parents of 2 boys. Phillip is 16 y.o. and Nickolas is 8 y.o. Nickolas is normal hearing. Phillip is…
Continue reading “The Trakhman Family”…

The Ambriz Family

Posted on: February 11, 2019 July 11, 2023 Written by: CAH&V
Ruben, Elena, and Luna Before having Luna, her father and I knew that we wanted our little girl to feel connected to us and to have a strong relationship of communication. That of course did not happen as we planned…
Continue reading “The Ambriz Family”…

News Category

  • #TogetherThursday (77)
  • Blog (50)
  • DHH Stories (14)
  • Family Stories (10)
  • News (53)

Recent Posts

18 Dec

IEP Goals: A Basic Formula for Success

By: Kristen Stratton, J.M. CA Hands & Voices In the hundreds of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) I have helped write as an advocate, I find the goal writing process to be the most important but often the most rushed part…
Continue reading “IEP Goals: A Basic Formula for Success”…
18 Dec

Stuck in the Middle: Our Daughter’s Journey as a Hard of Hearing Kiddo

By Marissa Weiss During a conversation with our daughter’s Teacher of the Deaf when she was in second grade (she’s currently in fifth grade), this invaluable professional accurately summarized the challenges of Rosie’s journey as a hard of hearing kiddo. …
Continue reading “Stuck in the Middle: Our Daughter’s Journey as a Hard of Hearing Kiddo”…
18 Dec

Building Connections and Impact: Insights from the Hands & Voices Conference

The recent Hands & Voices Leadership Conference in Spokane, Washington, provided an invaluable experience for our California Hands & Voices team, uniting us with passionate advocates, parents, and professionals from across the country who share the same mission of supporting…
Continue reading “Building Connections and Impact: Insights from the Hands & Voices Conference”…
18 Dec

Open Captions, Yes Please

By Johanna Wonderly, CA Hands & Voices Parent Going to the movies is one of those simple pleasures so many families love—snuggling into those big recliner seats, popcorn in hand, escaping into a story on the big screen. For my…
Continue reading “Open Captions, Yes Please”…
18 Dec

Never Give Up!

By Myra Cullum, California H&V “You will always be her best advocate!” Those were the words from a retired DHH teacher. She advised me to keep EVERYTHING on my young daughter, who has a severe/profound bilateral hearing loss and Down…
Continue reading “Never Give Up!”…
13 Dec

H&V Call to Action: US DOE/Office of Special Education Programs

From HQ: H&V HQ, with the Education and Legislative Policy committee, have been monitoring the activities at the U.S. Department of Education specifically with regards to the Office of Special Education Programs.  In conferring with our HV DHH Council and…
Continue reading “H&V Call to Action: US DOE/Office of Special Education Programs”…
02 Dec

Your year-round support keeps CA H&V strong. Give today!

It’s not too late to support California Hands & Voices this #GivingTuesday. We know there are countless worthwhile nonprofits doing incredible work, and we’re truly honored to be among those you consider. Every donation—no matter the size—makes a meaningful impact…
Continue reading “Your year-round support keeps CA H&V strong. Give today!”…
10 Oct

ASTra  Announcement

Our next 8 Hour ASTra (Advocacy Support & Training) Workshop is coming to Northern California!  We’re currently seeking a meeting space and sponsorship support to help make this valuable training possible. In the past, our trainings have been generously hosted…
Continue reading “ASTra  Announcement”…
10 Oct

Join the Hands & Voices 5K – California Team

Choose the location that works best for you—your neighborhood, a local park, the beach, or even a treadmill then invite friends to join you and walk together to strengthen community and raise funds for California Hands & Voices.  100% of…
Continue reading “Join the Hands & Voices 5K – California Team”…
10 Oct

Happy Birthday to California Hands & Voices

This month marks a special milestone—California Hands & Voices became an official chapter in October 2012, which means we’re turning 13 years old!  We’ve grown into a strong, diverse community where families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children feel supported…
Continue reading “Happy Birthday to California Hands & Voices”…
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About CA Hands & Voices

California Hands & Voices is dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in a respectful and non-judgmental manner regarding language opportunities, communication tools or educational approaches. We’re a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information to improve communication access and educational outcomes for their children.

Support ♥

California Hands & Voices is a non-profit organization that depends on the support of its members to succeed. Please consider donating or becoming a member.

Contact Us

California Hands & Voices
c/o Cora Shahid
15274 Andorra Way
San Diego CA 92129

**California Hands & Voices, including our board members, ASTra Advocates, or anyone associated with California Hands & Voices are not lawyers and do not provide legal advice, or represent that their advice equates to legal counsel. Nothing in the relationship between the parent requesting support and our board members, ASTra Advocates, or anyone associated with California Hands & Voices should be construed as legal advice. California Hands & Voices strongly recommends that anyone seeking legal advice get an attorney.

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