EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS' REPORT

Norah-Lynn McIntyre

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting people from our VOICE Associate Chapters in Montreal, Edmonton, and Calgary. VOICE families in Quebec, Alberta and Manitoba are now actively lobbying their provincial governments for a universal infant hearing screening program. It is astonishing that not all provinces in Canada today have adopted a universal infant hearing screening program, knowing what we do about the long-term benefits of early identification. Early identification of hearing loss and access to appropriate communication and audiological supports have enabled the majority of children born with hearing loss, in communities with infant hearing screening programs, to develop spoken language on par with their hearing peers. In an age of sophisticated testing methods and miraculous technological advancements, even the most profoundly deaf child, if tested and aided early, can fully integrate into a hearing and speaking society. Sadly, during my chapter visits, I met families whose children went undiagnosed until the age of 4. Many families shared the frustration of not being told of communication options for their child and now they feel they’ve missed the chance for optimal early and intensive listening and language development. In 2008 early identification programs and access to auditory-verbal therapy is not universally available to families in Canada. VOICE is committed to seeing this change.

It is through our collaborations, with parents, professionals and policy makers, that we can assure the most beneficial supports and services for our children with hearing loss. Together we CAN make a difference. I encourage each and every one of our parents and the professionals who help our children, to find ways to work in partnership, and to support each other. With one unified VOICE our ability to influence decision makers is much more powerful.

In 2007/2008 VOICE has participated in a number of collaborations that support children with hearing loss, their families and their professional community. With the support of the Ministry of Education in Ontario, a Mentorship Training Program is currently being piloted in four Ontario school boards. Feedback from the professionals and the parents involved and the ministry has been extremely positive. VOICE also consulted with the A.G. Bell Academy of Listening and Spoken Language in its development of the new designation for a listening and spoken language educator. In addition, VOICE has worked with the Ontario College of Teachers to develop new recommendations and guidelines for the teacher
of the deaf qualifications program. Commencing in 2008, the curriculum will include the option to become an “oral specialist.” Also in 2008, VOICE will continue its efforts to partner with like-minded organizations by participating at the CHHA/International Federation of Hard of Hearing People Conference to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia in July.

Last, but not least, is the collaboration we have formed with Andrew John Publishing Inc. We are pleased to appoint them as our new official publisher of VOICE’s Sound Matters and look forward to hearing from you, our readership, with your feedback on the “new” Sound Matters format. Nothing quite sums up the needs and challenges for deaf and hard of hearing children as the title of our 2008 conference – Diverse Challenges and Unique Solutions and its goal to foster collaborations that support children with hearing loss. Once again this year we were inspired by some tremendous presenters. We are grateful to each and every one of them for their participation and their wisdom and for their
contributions to this issue of Sound Matters. We are equally grateful to our many volunteers who helped make this year’s conference the “best ever” and to the conference delegates, many of whom came great distances to be with us. Save the date for next year’s conference
– May 2, 2009 and please plan to attend. We would like to take this opportunity also to again thank our many valued sponsors and exhibitors. As a not-for-profit organization, we rely on their generous support. Thank you all.