The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is a non-profit membership organization that counts among its many objectives promoting detection of hearing loss in early infancy, as well as prompt early intervention and continued use of appropriate hearing aids. Other objectives are to collaborate with physicians, audiologists, speech/language specialists, and educators to promote educational, vocational, and social opportunities for individuals of all ages who are deaf or hard of hearing, gather and disseminate information on hearing loss, including its causes and options for treatment, and collaborate on research relating to auditory-verbal and auditory-oral communication.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), with approximately 60,000 members and 59 state-based chapters, is the nation's preeminent organization for assuring that young children receive high quality health care. AAP has endorsed hearing screening for all children before they leave the hospital.
The American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) provides education, resources and a voice for the medical genetics profession. To make genetic services available to and improve the health of the public, the ACMG promotes the development and implementation of methods to diagnose, treat and prevent genetic disease. ACMG is an organization composed of biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other health care professionals.
The American Society for Deaf Children (ASDC) is an organization of families and professionals committed to educating, empowering, and supporting parents and families to create opportunities for their children who are deaf and hard of hearing in gaining meaningful and full communication access, particularly through the competent use of Sign Language in the home, school, and community. ASDC works to assure the highest quality programs and services for parents to make sound and informed choices to meet their children's educational, communication, personal, and social needs.
The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) is a professional and scientific association for more than 115,000 speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and speech, language, and hearing scientists in the United States and internationally. ASHA's mission is to promote the interests of and provide the highest quality of services for professionals in audiology, speech-language pathology, and speech and hearing science, and to advocate for people with communication disabilities.
The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP) provides leadership to assure the health and well-being of all women of reproductive age, children, and youth, including those with special health care needs and their families. It is a national organization representing state public health leaders in maternal and child health and other interested individuals and organizations. AMCHP relies on strong partnerships with other public sector officials and agencies, families and advocates, research professionals, and a range of other key individuals and their organizations at the state and local levels. AMCHP publishes a bimonthly newsletter and convenes a yearly conference for planning, policy development, and dissemination of program information.
BEGINNINGS has served families in North Carolina as a non-profit organization since 1987. BEGINNINGS was established to provide emotional support and access to information as a central resource for families with deaf or hard of hearing children, age birth through 21. BEGINNINGS provides an impartial approach to meeting the diverse needs of these families and the professionals who serve them. These services are also available to deaf parents who have hearing children. The mission of BEGINNINGS is to help parents be informed, empowered and supported as they make decisions about their child. In addition, BEGINNINGS is committed to providing technical assistance to professionals who work with these families to help the children achieve full participation in society.
Boys Town National Research Hospital is one of the world's largest clinical and research centers dealing with disorders of hearing, speech, language and learning. Boys Town National Research Hospital offers deaf and hard of hearing children and their families a wealth of services ranging from pre-school programs, sign language classes and tutoring to printed materials and videos.
Collaborative Early Intervention National Training e-Resource (CENTe-R) is focused on developing a program of study focusing on the acquisition of professional standards in the area of child development, communication, socialization, cognition, cultural sensitivity, medicine and technology; partner with state agencies, medical communities, parent organizations, professional and advocacy groups, colleges and universities; develop, field-test and disseminate web-based modules in early intervention for preservice professionals; establish ongoing training activities via on-site, distance education and consultation; and provide an electronic and print media clearinghouse featuring topics in early intervention and hearing loss.
Delta Zeta Sorority is a national organization comprised of over 415 chapters (165 collegiate and 250 alumnae). The focus of Delta Zeta's national philanthropic program is on speech and hearing. Since the 1950's Delta Zeta collegiate and alumnae chapters have provided support for many programs which benefit persons with speech and hearing impairments, most notably at Gallaudet University, the House Ear Institute, as well as other local causes related to speech and hearing.
Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State and Welfare Agencies (DSHPSHWA) was established in 1964 to promote awareness about communication disorders and the continued development of public health programs for the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. Today, the organization is active in national maternal and child health issues and includes members from nearly every state.
Family Voices is a national organization that serves as a clearinghouse for information and education concerning the health care of all children with special health needs. With ten Regional Coordinators and a national membership of 20,000, they work to advocate for health care reform and policy that includes family-professional partnerships, cultural competence, and cost-effective, flexible, quality health care for children with special needs. Members work in public and private hospitals, public health programs, state capitals, and Washington, D.C., as well as serving on boards and task forces in partnership with health professionals and policymakers.
Hands and Voices is a non-profit, parent-driven national organization dedicated to supporting families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Hands and Voices provides non-biased information about communication methodologies and believes that families will make the best choices for their child if they have access to good information and support. From American Sign Language to cochlear implants, Hands and Voices represents people from all different approaches to and experiences with deafness and hearing loss.
Head Start is a comprehensive child development program which serves children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families. The Head Start program has a long tradition of delivering comprehensive and high quality services designed to foster healthy development in low-income children. Head Start grantee and delegate agencies provide a range of individualized services in the areas of education and early childhood development; medical, dental, and mental health; nutrition; and parent involvement. In addition, the entire range of Head Start services is responsive and appropriate to each child's and family's developmental, ethnic, cultural, and linguistic heritage and experience. Head Start is a child-focused program and has the overall goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families.
Joint Committee on Infant Hearing (JCIH) consists of representatives appointed by six major professional organizations with a commitment to identifying congenital hearing loss as early as possible. Created in the late 1960's at the suggestion of ASHA, membership also includes the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, the American Academy of Audiology, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Council for Education of the Deaf, and the Directors of Speech and Hearing Programs in State Health and Welfare Agencies. JCIH recommendations on policy and practice are widely cited and have had a major impact on early identification of hearing loss.
Louisiana State University Health Literacy Project provides education, patient care services, research, and community outreach. The Project is committed to educating physicians, basic scientists, residents, fellows and allied health professionals based on state-of-the-art curricula, methods, and facilities; preparing students for careers in health care service, teaching or research; providing state-of-the-art clinical care, including a range of tertiary special services, to an enlarging and diverse regional base of patients; and achieving distinction and international recognition for basic science and clinical research programs that contribute to the body of knowledge and practice in science and medicine; supporting the region and the State in economic growth and prosperity by utilizing research and knowledge to engage in productive partnerships with the private sector.
March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency that works to improve the health of mothers, infants and children by working to prevent prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality.
Marion Downs Hearing Center will provide services, resources, education and research to support the needs of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. Support will extend to their families as well. The vision for the hearing center is to develop important ideas and conduct research that will lead to significant experimental advancements.
Maternal and Child Health Research Policy Center is a health policy group that provides federal and state policymakers, public health officials, and provider and family organizations with analysis, objective research, and strategic guidance on financing and service delivery issues affecting children and adolescents, particularly those with special needs and those from low-income families with the overall goal of improving the effectiveness of the health care system for children.
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. has been known for its high-quality, objective research to support public policy decisions in the areas of health care, welfare, education, employment, nutrition, and early childhood policies and programs. Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. offers policymakers a unique combination of evaluation expertise, direct data collection services, and insight into the socioeconomic issues that drive public policy. Its clients include federal agencies, state and local governments, foundations, universities, professional associations, and businesses.
National Association of the Deaf (NAD), a national federation of state associations and organizational affiliates in addition to individual members, provides civil and accessibility rights advocacy, grassroots and youth leadership development, and legal expertise across a broad spectrum of areas including but not limited to accessibility, education, employment, healthcare, mental health, rehabilitation, technology, telecommunications, and transportation.
National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC) is a component of the Georgetown Child Development Center housed within the Department of Pediatrics at Georgetown Medical Center. The mission of NICC is to increase the capacity of health care programs to design, implement, and evaluate culturally-competent service-delivery systems.
National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) was established in 1987 under federal legislation. It works with its Consortium Partners to support states, jurisdictions, and others to improve services and results for young children with disabilities and their families.
Public Health Informatics Institute brings together experts in public health, health information systems, and informatics to establish a new paradigm for developing health information systems. The goal is to foster effective health information systems through collaboration, innovation, and action. The Public Health Informatics Institute's approach to health information systems combines best practices in informatics with knowledge and experience in public health and health care including the economic, organizational, and political realities facing public health and health care practitioners.
SKI-HI Institute is the country's most widely used early intervention system for children with hearing loss. For the past 32 years, Ski-HI has assisted early intervention agencies in 48 of the 50 U.S. states to establish early intervention programs designed specifically for children who are deaf or hard of hearing, and have provided comprehensive training and materials to these sites as new technology and information have enhanced the field. SKI-HI also provides training and technical assistance to the U.S. Territories of Guam and Saipan, and to several sites in Canada. It is estimated that about one-third of all preschool children with hearing loss receive early intervention services using SKI-HI materials. It was originally validated by the Joint Dissemination Review Panel 30 years ago and was most recently revalidated by the Program Effectiveness Panel. SKI-HI staff, along with a nationwide network of 95 certified trainers, will be available to participating states to assist families, hospitals, state agencies, and others in developing effective linkages with appropriate community-based services.
Texas Education Telecommunication Network (TETN) facilitates communications among educational entities throughout Texas via an effective telecommunications network. The videoconferencing that TETN provides enables live, interactive audio/video communication between a maximum of 100 interactive sites statewide.
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