We are excited for spring at Child’s Voice! It brings renewed change and growth, which are two things we have had an abundance of already this year. We have new students starting in our preschool program, two of our staff members are getting ready to become new moms, and that is just the start.
Growth also means that some of our older students are getting ready to graduate and transition into their mainstream school programs. We will miss them and their families dearly but these kiddos are ready to fly.
As a parent, I try to celebrate my boys’ growing up and getting older. This is not an easy task, as I sometimes long for their squishy hugs and daily discoveries. Still, I try to celebrate them for where they are and what an incredible journey they have been on in life. As I look at our Child’s Voice graduates, I keep that same mentality. I am truly excited for their future and confident that we have given them crucial tools to begin learning alongside their hearing peers. If I ever need a reminder to keep my eye on the future, I can just look down the hallway at Child’s Voice.
A number of years ago we began asking our graduates to send us pennants from the schools they attend. We started small as our students grew up and we now have 36 colleges and universities represented in “Alumni Hall.” The schools range in size and geography from Texas to California to New York and everywhere in between. I find this incredibly impressive and so do all of the guests we bring in to tour our program. Everyone who walks that hallway comments on how inspiring this representation is. I try not to tear up as I look at the pictures of our students in their caps and gowns and then up at the 36 colleges and universities that are lucky enough to educate them. These pennants represent hope for families, celebrations for our alumni, and a sense of confidence for school districts and donors.
Every week we have families with newborn babies who need follow up ABR testing in Audiology, toddlers and their parents attending our Toddler Group, and students in our school programs walking through our halls. My hope is that they all glance up and see that children with hearing loss are capable of success. I know all of us at Child’s Voice believe that, and I know you do too.
