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"How can we expect our children to know and experience the joy of giving unless we teach them that the greater pleasure in life lies in the art of giving rather than receiving."
- James Cash Penny |
Greetings!
Once again our volunteers have gone above and beyond by giving of themselves and their valuable time in order help us reach out to our community. You probably heard their names mentioned before but these individuals are so important to us that we would like to mention their accomplishments once again...
Jim Detterline - thank you for getting involved with the teenagers and for being such a strong role model and mentor!!
Lisa Smith - a "round of applause" to you for your dedication and support these many weeks... what a pleasure it has been to see you every week!
Susan Milner - another "round of applause" to you for helping us with almost every special event we had this past year. You have been there for us whenever we needed to reach you!
Christine Arbogast - thank you for your recent donation of a flat screen television for our consumer outreach programs!
And to the many other volunteers who have invested in our mission and who have believed in our vision.... We could not have accomplished so much without you!! If you are thinking of getting involved, now is the time as many of our volunteers have gone back to school or have transitioned into the workforce. There are a number of opportunities that are available so please consider calling us today! You can reach us at 720-848-3042 or by email at mdhc@uch.edu.
Sincerely,
MDHC Staff |
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Picnic Tomorrow! |
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Come Join the Fun!
What are YOU doing tomorrow? Consider joining us for our annual DHH Family Picnic at General's Park in Aurora! Taking place from 10:30-1:30, we'll be BBQing, tossing around water balloons, participating in 3-legged races, and otherwise having a fantastic time with our families!
WHAT
Picnic for families with deaf or hard of hearing members
WHERE
General's Park (on southwest corner of Univ. of Colorado Hospital)
1561 N Quentin Street (near Colfax and Peoria)
Aurora, CO 80045
WHEN
10:30 - 1:30, rain or shine!
Hamburgers, bratwurst, and hotdogs will be provided. Please bring a side dish to share! The category is based on your last name:
A - G: Drinks
H - M: Salad
N - S: Dessert
T - Z: Casserole
Hope to see you there! |
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New Members to the Board of Directors |
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Welcoming New Faces!
This month, three individuals were elected to the Marion Downs Hearing Center Foundation Board of Directors. The mission of the MDHC Foundation is to provide financial support to the Marion Downs Hearing Center. Each new members is bringing their unique experiences, expertise, and networks to the table to support this mission. We're thrilled to introduce you to...
Christine Arbogast - Christine has 25 years of experience in government relations where she concentrates on advocating for water rights and natural resources. She is skilled in strategic planning, communications, public and media relations, writing, and special events. Christine looks forward to using her expertise to advocate for those with hearing loss.
Jack Stern - Jack has experience working on the Board of Directors of other 501(c)(3) organizations. Jack has held a title of Vice President of Investments and then in 1982, started his own law practice where he was the Administrator of a large trust fund. He was responsible for all legal, accounting, financial, and investment matters. Jack will support the Foundation with his expertise in financial management, budgeting, and accounting.
Liesel Thomas - Liesel is a mother of three daugthers, including a 7-year old and a 9-month old who are profoundly deaf. Liesel has a B.S. in communications, has experience being a paralegal, and has done marketing strategies for a variety of organizations. She will support the Foundation with her expertise in public and media relations, public speaking, and writing. |
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Holiday Art and Story Contest |
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Are You Creative? 
Do you want your holiday drawing to be appreciated by hundreds of people? Does your child make the most adorable sketch of Santa and his reindeer? If so, you may be interested in our annual Holiday Art and Story Contest! Three winners (from age categories) will be chosen to have their artwork on the 2009 MDHC Holiday Cards. The cards will be available for purchase so you can send them to all your friends and family!
CONTEST RULES:
1) Provide Artwork
2) Write a story about yourself
3) Submit by Friday, October 1, 2009!
Please click on this link for more details on the contest rules, as well as the Contest Waiver. For questions or more information, please email us at mdhc@uch.edu or call 720-848-3042. |
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Immersion Day, October 3 |
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Spend a Full Day Practicing Your Sign Language! 
On Saturday, October 3, we will host our first Immersion Day for those who want to refresh and/or improve their sign language skills. Open to all skill levels, this one-day event will provide you will an opportunity to practice your sign language voice-off! Through group activities, games, interactive dialogues, and drills, you'll be fully immersed in the language for the day!
TIME
Saturday, October 3
9:00 - 4:30
WHERE
Marion Downs Hearing Center Administrative Offices
1793 Quentin Street
Aurora, Colorado 80045
COST
Tuition: $50
Lunch and snacks will be provided.
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A Mother's Point of View... |
| by: Liesel Lancaster Thomas |
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Last week, I hustled my three bleary-eyed daughters into the minivan at 7:00 a.m. for the first day of school. Back-to-school with a child who is deaf or hard-of-hearing presents unique challenges.
The concerns can range from advocating for an adequately trained sign language interpreter, to social concerns, to equipment concerns, to transportation concerns and even having them placed in the appropriate school. The mundane takes on new meaning, such as where your child sits in class.
The first question is "what school will be most appropriate for my child?" This can be quite a difficult question, require a lot of research and the answer might change as they grow. I'll never forget our experience creating the first Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for my now 2nd grade daughter, who is deaf with cochlear implants. My family and the educational team were at polar opposites in terms of what we believed would be the appropriate placement for my daughter.
The educational team was insisting she enter a sign-language only program because they did not believe she would learn to speak. They also warned she would likely be in a remedial special education class, possibly for the duration of the school years. As the parents, we vehemently disagreed. The type of placement or communication style desired varies with each family and each child. Unfortunately, I have heard this same story many times, with alternating details of communication mode or accommodation denials.
Thankfully, my daughter attends the most appropriate school, which for her is a mainstream school with a strong base of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. She graduated from speech therapy last year with near perfect speech. She has continued to progress in sign language as well.
The dire predictions of remedial classes are laughable now. She actually requires advanced programming, especially in the areas of language and reading where she excels many grades above her age level.
As I drove home from school, I looked in the baby mirror back at my youngest asleep in her pink footed pajamas, her downy blonde hair fluffed out like a dandelion ready to be blown in the wind. Like her oldest sister, she is also deaf.
Before she goes out into the school world, this time I will have great hope. Although I am tempered by experience of obstacles, I also know her success will be the sweetest when she overcomes them.
Liesel is a new member of our Foundation Board of Directors and the mother of two prfoundly deaf children. | |
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Our Successes Are Your Successes |
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Did you know that the Marion Downs Hearing Center is formally recognized by the government as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code? This "non-profit" status means that in order for us to keep our lights on, our programs going, and our mission strong, we are dependent on YOU. Without YOUR donations, our programs and services would cease to exist. It is that simple. If you've had the chance to enjoy one of our many programs, events, or services this year, and are in a position to do so, consider making a donation today. In this year alone, we've had generous donors provide teen program scholarships, a flat screen TV, food items for family picnics, and hundreds of hours of volunteer service. Our donors are truly diverse! Thank you for getting involved!
To learn more about how you or your company can support MDHC's efforts, please contact Linda Engelbrecht, Manager, at 720-848-3043.
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