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…
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. …
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…
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…
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…
Survive, or Thrive? – a choice in the face of trials
By Myra Cullum, California Hands & Voices “It’s okay to cry.” These were the words of the audiologist who had just performed the hearing test on my infant daughter. My baby presented as severely-profoundly deaf in both ears. But this…
The Nancy Sager Saga
A Tribute to a Lifetime of Service By Cora Shahid and Kasey Cain, California Hands & Voices How can one truly capture the depth of gratitude owed to someone who has devoted nearly 50 years to serving Deaf and Hard…
Ear Defenders
by Marie Morgan, CA H&V Member Living here in Southern California, we can go long stretches–even months at a time–without rain. My daughter, Kacey, is very active all year round and involved in many outdoor activities such as run club,…
A Family Celebrates Disability and Possibility
The family was determined to embark on a mission to ensure that all of her children felt loved, supported, and celebrated for who they are, hearing or not hearing. By Ashley Jones, California H&V with Sara Kennedy, Editor People in…
A Family Celebrates Disability and Possibility
By Ashley Jones, California H&V with Sara Kennedy, Editor People in this world often struggle to understand and accept differences. The Jones family is on a mission to change that in their circle of influence. “When one child is hard…