Mission
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. Our outreach activities, parent/professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on enabling children who are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing to reach their highest potential.
Vision
California Hands & Voices will be the standard for respectful and non-judgmental empowerment of families to support their children who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing to reach their fullest potential.
History
The story of California Hands & Voices (CA-H&V) is much like a relay team, with two dedicated groups of parents and professionals working in tandem to support families. Our goal has always been to offer assistance in a respectful, non-judgmental way, with the ultimate aim of improving outcomes for children in our community. This shared motivation aligned perfectly with the mission of Hands & Voices and became the spark for forming a state chapter.
In December of 2009, on a classic sunny California day, the founding group came together. After thoughtful discussion and careful planning, they recognized the need for a state chapter of Hands & Voices to serve California’s families.
At the heart of Hands & Voices state chapter’s mission are five key initiatives: Early Intervention, Building Social Networks, Education, Advocacy, and Legislation. It was clear from the beginning that these initiatives would greatly benefit California families and their children.
When it came to legislative advocacy, we took a cautious approach. California has a history of contentious legislative debates, so our aim was always to engage in legislation that had the broad consensus of all stakeholders, ensuring our efforts would be supportive rather than divisive. Our goal is to connect with all involved parties to create meaningful change.
The founding group worked tirelessly to provide local family-friendly events, educational workshops, and the necessary steps to establish a formal state chapter.
A few years later, a fresh group took up the baton, energized by the desire to carry on the vision of founders Melanie Doyle and Linda Dye by continuing the California DHH Family Camp in Julian, California. This camp aligned perfectly with our strategic goals and became a vital resource for our families. It helped us complete the process of formally establishing our state chapter.
On March 11, 2013, we were granted our 501(c)(3) status by the IRS, marking the official recognition of California Hands & Voices as a nonprofit. Shortly thereafter, we received full chapter status from Hands & Voices Headquarters.
In 2019, California Hands & Voices officially launched the Hands & Voices ASTra Program, expanding access to quality advocacy support throughout the state. We understand how overwhelming it can be to navigate IEPs, evaluations, and school meetings—especially when support systems aren’t familiar with the unique needs of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children. That’s where ASTra comes in. We offer personalized support and resources to help families understand how special education law applies to students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing.
Since then, we have grown in both size and scope. We now host two Family Camps: Southern California (our flagship camp) and Northern California. Our Inland Valley Family Camp, which was an integral part of our efforts for many years, concluded in 2023. To better serve California’s diverse communities, we’ve organized the state into nine regions, ensuring we can offer successful, local events. We’re also very active on social media, keeping families informed and connected.
Thanks to our collaborations with like-minded organizations, agencies, families, and professionals, we’re confident that we can continue to improve outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing children in California. Together, we’re working toward making California a model state for the effective support of these children and their families.
Acknowledging the Author of Our History: We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Tony Ronco, Founding Board President of California Hands & Voices, for documenting our organization’s history. His detailed account has preserved the milestones, challenges, and successes that have shaped our journey. Tony’s dedication to sharing this important story ensures that our legacy continues to inspire future generations of families and supporters.
Note: The California Hands & Voices mission is aligned with the Hands & Voices mission (below) but it’s not word for word identical.
by Karen Putz, Co-Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infusion, Hands & Voices (at the time of this recording)
Hands & Voices Deaf and Hard of Hearing Advisory Council
March 2, 2023 Emily Burke and Elizabeth Shuler-Krause were hired to support the work of Hands & Voices Headquarters and the H&V Family Leadership in Language and Learning (FL3) Center. Learn more about both Emily and Elizabeth (Press Release)
https://www.handsandvoices.org/dhh-infusion/index.html