VOLUME 26 ISSUE 3 JUL-SEP 2019 JUL-SEP 2019 // VOLUME 26 // ISSUE 3 FEATURES 12 12 An Honorable Journey: AG Bell presents the Honors of the Association Award to Dr. Carol Flexer AG Bell celebrates Dr. Flexer’s lifelong career dedicated to helping children who are deaf and hard of hearing achieve success. BY LISA A. GOLDSTEIN 14 3 by 3: Grade-Level Reading by the End of Third Grade Reaching grade-level reading for children who are deaf and hard of hearing ensures future academic and career success. 14 BY VELVET BUEHLER AND GAYLA GUIGNARD, CHIEF STRATEGY OFFICER 20 Baby Ears The Newborn and Infant Hearing Screening and Intervention Act passed 20 years ago and changed the lives of many families. Here’s how. BY RIN-RIN YU 28 The 17 Years I Won’t Get Back Catharine McNally reflects on her earlier wariness to reach her full hearing 20 potential—and the dramatic change when she found the right doctor. BY CATHARINE MCNALLY, AG BELL BOARD CHAIR 32 Global Gathering AG Bell’s Global LSL Symposium takes the world stage in Madrid. BY CHRISTOPHER GENSCH, AG BELL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR IN EVERY ISSUE DEPARTMENTS 2 Want to Write for Volta Voices? 3 From the Chair From “Good Enough” to “Amazing” 6 SoundBites 5 Editor’s Note Back to School 36 Directory of Services 8 Advocacy In Action Insurance Coverage for Children’s Hearing Aids 39 List of Advertisers 34 Focus on Chapters AG Bell Georgia Holds First Spanish Community Expo / AG Bell NorCal Expo Families Visit to the Zoo 40 Ending Note The Sounds of Success ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING 3417 VOLTA PLACE, N.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20007 // WWW.AGBELL.ORG Want to Write for Volta Voices? Working Globally to Ensure That People Who Submissions to Volta Voices Transfer of Copyright Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing Can Hear and Talk. Volta Voices welcomes submissions from The revised copyright law, which went into Adopted by the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing both the Alexander Graham Bell Association effect in January 1978, provides that from Board of Directors, November 2018 for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing members the time a manuscript is written, statutory and nonmembers. The magazine is published copyright is vested with the author(s). ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL four times annually. Its audience consists of All authors whose articles have been ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEAF individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, accepted for publication in Volta Voices AND HARD OF HEARING parents of children who are deaf and hard of are requested to transfer copyright of their 3417 Volta Place, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 www.agbell.org hearing, and professionals in fields related articles to AG Bell prior to publication. VOICE 202.337.5220 | FAX 202.337.8314 to hearing loss (audiology, speech-language This copyright can be transferred only pathology, psychology, otology, social by written agreement. Without copyright services, education). ownership, AG Bell cannot issue or Volta Voices Staff For submission guidelines and to submit disseminate reprints, authorize copying Communications Director Christopher Gensch content, visit the Volta Voices page at by individuals and libraries, or authorize Advertising, Exhibit and Sponsorship Sales www.agbell.org/Advocacy/Volta-Voices. indexing and abstracting services to use Gary Yates material from the magazine. Subjects of Interest Editorial • Technology—related to hearing loss, new Silver Media Group LLC Art Submission Guidelines technology, improvements to or problems with Volta Voices prefers digital images over original Design and Illustrations GRAPHEK existing technology, or how people are using artwork. 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Robert J. Bush, CPCU, CPIA (Pa.) • Action—stories about people with hearing Chief Executive Officer loss who use spoken language as their Letters to the Editor Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, J.D., CFRE primary mode of communication; deafness Let us know how we are doing. Write a Letter need not be the focal point of the article. to the Editor, and you could see your comment in the next issue. Directors Editorial Guidelines Berta Burguera Arienza (U.K.) The periodicals department reserves the Media Kit Arlene Stredler Brown, Ph.D., CCC-SLP (Colo.) right to edit material to fit the style and Email Gary Yates at [email protected] for Howard W. Francis, M.D., M.B.A. (N.C.) tone of Volta Voices and the space available. advertising information. Sara Grosvenor (Md.) Articles are selected on a space-available Ken Levinson (Calif.) and relevancy basis; submission of materials Emma Rushbrooke, M.Phil. (Audiology), B.A, is not a guarantee of use. Dip.Aud., M.A. and S.A., LSLS Cert. AVT (Australia) John F. Stanton, Esq. (D.C.) VOLTA VOICES Volume 26, Issue 3, Jul-Sep 2019 (ISSN 1074-8016) is published four times per year in March, June, September, and December for $50 per year by Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 3417 Volta Pl., N.W., Washington, D.C., 20007. Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C., and other additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Volta Voices, Subscription Department, 3417 Volta Pl., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007, 202/337-5220 (voice). On the cover: Claims for undelivered issues must be made within four months of publication. Volta Voices is sent to all members of the Baby Ears association. Yearly individual membership dues are $50. Volta Voices comprises $30 of membership dues. 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Box 503, RPO West Beaver Creek, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4R6 FROM THE CHAIR From “Good Enough” to “Amazing” From an educational and “isn’t this cool or what?” mindset, it’s all in how you frame it. greater connection and interaction mild to moderate hearing loss? That because I wasn’t missing anything. The does not compute. Some states cover best part? My colleagues thought it was it, some do not. We cannot let them not the coolest “trick” that I could directly fall behind their peers due to lack of Of late, I am personally benefiting hear speakers and filter out background. appropriate early intervention. It isn’t fair from the personal use of wireless They all felt that I had the advantage. How to leave them behind if their hearing loss accessories for my bilateral cochlear amazing is that response, to feel that isn’t severe enough. You and I, AG Bell’s implant’s direct access to sound. (Similar I actually have a leg-up using my own chapters, professionals and advocates technology is also available for hearing technology? From an educational and can continue to press for appropriate aids.) I wish I had this during my school “isn’t this cool or what?” mindset, it’s all in access—just as we did to pave the way for years. You see, I rejected those options how you frame it. This applies to schools Universal Newborn Hearing Screening. because I could hear “well enough.” My and classrooms—using the various It’s our voices that help make a difference. audiograms showed it, and my word accessories available for hearing aids and Please sign on to support your state so recognition tests were scoring high. cochlear implants to boost access and that these infants and children who aren’t I also didn’t want to deal with something engagement. When our kids are outfitted candidates for the insurance-covered else to make me stand out even more with the appropriate technology, we can cochlear implants can get the support SUBMIT ARTICLES/ITEMS TO: Volta Voices when all I wanted to do was blend in. take steps to better their educational they need. Alexander Graham Bell Association for the In hindsight, making use of these opportunities in this new school year. All this success in the classroom, Deaf and Hard of Hearing 3417 Volta Place, N.W.