At Listen Foundation, we provide funding that enables families to take advantage of therapy services provided by our network of therapists who specialize in enabling children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and speak. Our therapists not only have impeccable credentials and years of experience teaching the deaf, but a passion for what they do and love for the children they serve which enables the children to thrive and families see their dreams gradually unfold.

What can our therapists achieve that cannot be achieved with signing programs? Well, here are some answers from some of our families:

T. wouldn’t be able to phone his family on his cell phone when he is out with his friends or driving home from work to let them know he’s on his way home or to talk to them about family plans for the day.

D. wouldn’t be able to learn how to read by sounding out words and using phonic sounds for the letters in the English language. (His dad recollects how frightened D. was when he got his implant at age 16 months and heard the lawnmower for the first time!)

H. age 5, would not have been able to answer the verbal questions posed to her by customs officials, totally independently from her parents, as she was entering the US after a family trip. Her parents are certain that her ability to talk about her implant and how she learned to listen and talk saved them hours in security procedures at the airport.

I. would have been held back from attending a normal, neighborhood preschool with her triplet sisters. She now has words and can converse with her 2 sisters in both English and Japanese. (Her dad is proud to report that she sings “pretty much on key” and loves singing.)

T. wouldn’t be in a mainstreamed class at school. He would still be using a sign language interpreter in school. His mother clearly remembers that he “talked hardly at all” before he started therapy. Now he talks for himself and to his friends. Recently he told his mother when he was around some children who were signing, “ I speak. I don’t sign.”

Help Make a Difference!

Help us fulfill our mission of getting more Colorado children listening and talking. Your contribution is used primarily to fund Listening and Spoken Language Therapy from our amazing network of therapists, helping children desperatly in need across the state.