We are so glad you subscribe to our newsletter! Check out some featured stories from our October 2025 newsletter below.
A Message from our board president
For 30 years, Child’s Voice has relied on generous donors like you to empower children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen, talk, read, advocate for themselves, and thrive just like their hearing friends and peers.
A Message from our board president
For 30 years, Child’s Voice has relied on generous donors like you to empower children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen, talk, read, advocate for themselves, and thrive just like their hearing friends and peers.
I’m so proud of Child’s Voice’s success in empowering children and their parents to thrive, and I know our work has been life-changing. Children in the Chicagoland area enjoy access to world-class knowledge, resources, and services from Child’s Voice because of your generosity, the commitment of many families and the passion of our dedicated professionals.
I’d love to share my personal connection to Child’s Voice and the reason my family devotes our time, talent and treasure to Child’s Voice. My husband and I first learned of Child’s Voice nearly 25 years ago when our infant son, Luke, didn’t pass his ABR—a test that checks how a baby’s hearing nerves respond to sound. Since Luke was a triplet—(yes, you read that right!), we could also see that he wasn’t reacting to sound in the same way his brother and sister were. After multiple visits to medical professionals, Luke was diagnosed with auditory neuropathy. We were told by experts in the field that Luke may never develop spoken language—and we were scared. No one in our family was deaf or hard of hearing, so we needed to research. We learned that trailblazing parents of hearing-impaired children started a school called Child’s Voice in Elmhurst. They created a place of miracles where children could learn to speak and listen using hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. So, at a time in our lives filled with uncertainty and fear, Child’s Voice provided hope, answers, and a clear path forward.
Luke graduated from Child’s Voice in 2007 and had an incredible experience. Luke thrived in the mainstream too. He enjoyed playing football, baseball, and volleyball in high school. Ironically, the boy we worried would never develop spoken language actually joined the Speech Team. In 2023, Luke graduated with honors from Boston College and earned his C.P.A. Luke is an accountant with PwC, and enjoys living and working in Chicago. Luke’s story is extraordinary—and yet pretty typical of a Child’s Voice graduate.
In 2018, I was honored to join the Board of Directors and am now thrilled to serve as the Board President. My family and I will be forever grateful to Child’s Voice and pledge to do all we can to ensure that Child’s Voice is here for children and their families for decades to come. The magic of Child’s Voice is that it empowers children to find their voice and flourish—which enriches families, communities, and our world. Please consider donating your time, talent and treasure to Child’s Voice.
We also would love to have you join us on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at the Westin Hotel in Lombard as Child’s Voice turns 30! It’s a special moment in our history and we are looking forward to a celebration complete with great food, live entertainment, and appreciation for a community that has helped so much in getting us to this milestone.
- Cathleen Jareczek
Two Decades of Love & Learning
When I think of Child’s Voice, I think of my home away from home. It’s more than a school—it’s a family. As staff, we know each other inside and out. We share stories from our lives beyond the classroom, support one another through challenges and triumphs, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. The love and camaraderie here are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.
Two decades of love & learning
When I think of Child’s Voice, I think of my home away from home. It’s more than a school—it’s a family. As staff, we know each other inside and out. We share stories from our lives beyond the classroom, support one another through challenges and triumphs, and genuinely enjoy each other’s company. The love and camaraderie here are unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I can’t imagine having any other job than teaching.
I’ve been part of Child’s Voice for 20 years, and every day continues to be a gift. The small class sizes allow us to create tight-knit classroom families. Some of our students have been together since Early Intervention, and they interact like siblings—full of love, laughter, and shared memories.
The love I feel for my students is indescribable. They shower me with hugs, lift me up with their joy, and inspire me with their growth. Watching them bloom—gaining confidence, language, and knowledge—is one of the greatest privileges of my life. From their first days in P1 to the moment they give their graduation speech, I get to witness their transformation. And knowing I played a part in that journey? It’s simply magical.
Even after graduation, the magic continues. Some of my former students are now in college and graduate school. Seeing them as successful, happy adults—and reconnecting with their families—fills me with pride and gratitude.
Child’s Voice is a place where students, parents, teachers, and staff grow together. It’s a place of compassion, support, and love. It has truly changed my life for the better.
Sarah Hoppe
Donor Funded Music Program
Our donor-funded Music Exploration Program makes a powerful impact for children introducing them to the joy of music— all carefully designed to support their listening and spoken language development.
Donor Funded Music Program
Our donor-funded Music Exploration Program makes a powerful impact for children introducing them to the joy of music— all carefully designed to support their listening and spoken language development.
Thanks to a generous multi-year grant from The McMahon Family Fund we are able to have a dynamic music program from the Merritt School of Music. For children who are born deaf or hard of hearing, the ability to hear and recognize music is incredible.
Laurie McMahon, mother to alumni Dan McMahon, recalls how music inspired her funding of our program. “I recall with great joy riding home from the audiologist when Dan, at age 3, first got his hearing aids. We put the radio on, and he started singing along (not something he had done before)! It felt like he was really hearing music for the first time. Music is near and dear to my heart, and I’m so glad Child’s Voice students can experience it as part of their curriculum.”
Your generosity is helping children with hearing loss discover new ways to communicate, express themselves, and grow — all through the power of music.
Child's Voice Launches Junior Board
Child's Voice is thrilled to launch a Junior Board for students entering 8th grade through their senior year of high school. The Junior Board provides an opportunity to gain leadership skills, participate in fundraising activities, and gain service hours.
Child's Voice Launches Junior Board
I joined the Child’s Voice Board of Directors in 2021 because I have Meniere’s Disease, which has caused gradual hearing loss over time since my 30’s. I now have a hearing aid on one side and a cochlear implant on the other. While I am extremely grateful for the advances in technology and a great team of healthcare providers, I still struggle to hear in many situations. After much of my life taking my hearing for granted, my empathy for this community has grown tremendously. Managing hearing loss is frustrating and isolating at times; advocacy from people who understand and know how to help can make all the difference. Technology and healthcare aren’t the only answers. Children - and adults - with hearing loss deserve every opportunity to communicate, advance in their careers, socialize, and live a full life despite their hearing challenges.
“Watching the Child’s Voice community pay it forward is a beautiful thing. I was so impressed by the high school students who met for the first time this fall to launch the first-ever Child’s Voice Junior Board. This group of dedicated students have volunteered to share their own stories with others, assist with fundraising and educational events, and assist our current students and families.
The enthusiasm of the first meeting was palpable as the Junior Board shared great ideas for supporting Child’s Voice. Even through it’s been many years since their time as students, they recognize how life-changing their early education was. Child’s Voice is truly a world-class educational program in helping deaf and hard of hearing children listen, talk, read and advocate for themselves. It’s also great to see that our 30 years of work has touched both alumni and their friends. The new Junior board includes a student who supports the Child’s Voice mission and wants to help children with hearing challenges reach their full potential”.
Thank you to this incredible group of young people for stepping up to make a difference!
Open to all those entering 8th grade through their senior year of high school. The Junior Board provides an opportunity to gain leadership skills, participate in fundraising activities in your community and gain service hours. Interested in learning more? Email juniorboard@childsvoice.org.
The junior board members include the following Child’s Voice graduates and other high school student supporters: Emme Groth, Willows Academy; Jack Oleniczak, Benet Academy; Ariya Patel, Benet Academy; Aryan Patel, Latin School of Chicago; and Shiven Vadalkar, York High School.
Beyond Child's Voice - Self-Advocacy Skills
Twice each year, we ask teachers of Child’s Voice alumni to rate our alumni’s use of self-advocacy skills. We ask the teachers to rate their use of six specific self-advocacy skills.
Beyond Child's Voice
Twice each year, we ask teachers of Child’s Voice alumni to rate our alumni’s use of self-advocacy skills. We ask the teachers to rate their use of six specific self-advocacy skills. These skills include:
Using a repair strategy with a teacher
Using a repair strategy with a peer
Asking for repetitions
Asking for clarification
Asking for more information
Reporting problems with hearing devices
Using visual cues
Our goal is for at least 80% of our alumni to use each of the skills spontaneously. Last year, the alumni met that goal for 5 of the 6 skills. The only skill the alumni did not achieve at 80% was “using repair strategies with a peer”. The students who were rated as not spontaneously using the skill were able to use the skill with a prompt.
The group had two skills with 50% growth. One skill was asking for clarification. This means they were asking more specific questions beyond “What did you say?” or “Can you repeat that?” They were asking questions such as, “Can you say that louder?”, “Did you say _____?” and “Will you say that last part again?” This shows that their self-advocacy skills are maturing and continuing to develop in their general education classrooms.
The other skill of 50% growth was using visual cues. All of the students were rated as using visual cues to help themselves in the classroom. This is an important skill for our alumni because they can help themselves when they do not hear something that was said or they missed a direction that was given.
I am so proud of our alumni’s continued growth in their self-advocacy skills and I look forward to sharing this year’s results with you.
Celebrate our 30th birthday with us!
Learn more about how we are celebrating Child's Voice's 30th birthday in February 2026!
Celebrate our 30th birthday with us!
We would be honored if you would join us Saturday, February 21, 2026 for our 30th Birthday Gala at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, IL.
Early bird tickets, tables, and sponsorships are now available!
*Early bird pricing is good through November 26.
This event will celebrate our 30 year with passed appetizers, an open bar, plated dinner, dessert, live entertainment by Howl at the Moon Dueling Pianos, and feature alumni speakers and videos.
To stay up to date you can visit our website by clicking here.