Making an Impact Together |
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Supporting Positive Outcomes One Family at a Time! |
This school year, our dedicated Parent Educators have attended over 170 Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings to support families of school-age children. 🙌
Your generous contribution to BEGINNINGS will directly support education, training, publications, and outreach for families of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as well as the professionals that serve them. Together, we can make a difference! 🌟
💙 Donate Now and be a part of our mission to empower families. Thank you for your support! 💖
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| DeafBlind Awareness Month |
Did you know June is DeafBlind Awareness Month? Since 1984, this month has been observed annually when President Ronald Reagan issued a proclamation recognizing this special month. The aim of this national advocacy campaign is to raise public awareness about individuals with combined hearing and vision loss.
In North Carolina, there are approximately 84,000 people who have combined losses of hearing and vision.
Learn more about resources available for the DeafBlind community through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Division. Together, we can promote inclusivity and support for the DeafBlind community!
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This Father's Day, we want to celebrate the incredible fathers and father figures who inspire, support, and lead with love and dedication.
At BEGINNINGS, we recognize the vital role that fathers play in shaping families, communities, and our society,
To all the fathers who are always there to offer guidance, lend a helping hand, and provide unwavering support – we thank you. Your hard work, sacrifices, and boundless love do not go unnoticed.
Whether you're a new dad or a seasoned pro, your impact is immeasurable. Wishing you all a wonderful Father's Day filled with joy and love. 💙
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Community Connections in Asheville | August 11 |
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| 📣 Save the Date! BEGINNINGS Community Connections Event!
📆 Join us on August 11, 2024, from 4 PM to 7 PM at Highland Brewing Company in Asheville to learn more about BEGINNINGS' free services for families, meet local professionals, and enjoy a summer evening! ☀️👨👩👧👦 🍻
Event is free, but registration is required. Beverages and food will be provided. Families are welcome!
Don't miss this opportunity to connect with our community and learn more about the support available for families. See you there!
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BEGINNINGS Families: Where are they now? |
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This month, we caught up with Aidan Lampel and his mother, Christine. Aidan was diagnosed with Autism and Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss and has been part of the BEGINNINGS family since 2013.
Aidan is currently a part-time college student pursuing an Associate in Arts degree. He has plans to transfer to UNC-Charlotte for the Digital Media Arts program so he can pursue a career as an Animator. In his free time, he likes to play Minecraft and use Adobe Animate to create animations.
Over the past 11 years, Christine has received invaluable support from Diane Doak and Joanna Chantemerle, who have served as her Parent Educators on Aidan's hearing loss journey.
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Christine said, "Diane was so helpful in explaining everything we needed to know about hearing loss and how it impacts Aidan. She also came to our IEP meetings to help advocate for Aidan as well as teach our family how to advocate for him. Once Diane became the Executive Director, Joanna Chantermerle became our Parent Educator. She was a fantastic help to our family and came to a few IEP meetings as well. She also came over a couple of times to speak to Aidan about his transition out of high school."
Christine is extremely proud how Aidan has put in a lot of hard work academically. He was able to graduate from High School in 2023 and is now attending Community College, with the hopes of attending UNC-Charlotte in the future!
Christine shared that her advice to new families is to "connect with a Parent Educator as soon as possible. They’re so helpful in providing the knowledge and resources needed to navigate hearing loss. I’d also recommend establishing a good relationship with your child’s teacher and school. For your child to have every opportunity for success, both the school and the families need to work together. Ask the school to provide a few “parent sessions” where they show you tips and techniques on how to teach your child. This is really important when it comes to learning vocabulary and reading. Most importantly, love and accept your child and their diagnosis. Encourage them along the way and help develop their self advocacy skills."
Aidan's advice to new families who have just received a hearing loss diagnosis is to "remain calm and learn about your hearing loss diagnosis and how to advocate for yourself. Try to work hard with your teachers to learn Sign Language or how to communicate better if you’re Hard of Hearing.
We are so proud of Aidan and all of his accomplishments over these past 11 years! We wish him lots of success with his college education and hope to see him at UNC-Charlotte in the near future!
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Mark Your Calendar! Tickets Coming Soon for Our 5th Annual Oyster Roast & BBQ!
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Bright by Text: Free, Expert Parent Tips by Text |
Bright by Text is free text messaging service that delivers high-quality information to families to help them foster a child’s healthy growth, based on their exact age and developmental stage. Available in English and Spanish, the service covers children from prenatal through age 8.
Topics covered include:
- brain development,
- speech and language skills,
- social-emotional development,
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reading and writing skills,
- nutrition,
- mental health,
- school readiness, and more.
All information is provided by trusted content partners, including the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sesame Street, PBS Kids for Parents, and Zero to Three.
Families can sign up by texting BRIGHT to 274448, or by using the form on the Bright by Text website. Text messages are customized by the child’s due date or age and zip code.
Learn about the ASHA-Bright by Text TALK program [PDF]
Download a printable flyer [PDF] for parents/caregivers.
Watch or share a video about the service.
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| Unleash Summer Fun: Exciting and Engaging Activities for Kids! |
Summer is the perfect time to keep kids engaged with fun and enriching activities. Here are some great ideas:
1. Adventure with Deafverse
Deafverse offers interactive, choose-your-own-adventure games designed for Deaf and Hard of Hearing teens. These games build life skills and confidence through engaging storytelling. Check out Deafverse for more.
2. Language Activities for Kids with Hearing Loss
Central Institute for the Deaf suggests activities like experience stories, role plays, and games to enhance language skills. These activities are fun and adaptable for children of all ages and language levels. For detailed ideas, visit CID's language activities.
3. Listening and Language Activities from Listen Foundation
Check out the Listen Foundation's June Listening and Language activities calendar, crafted by their lead Listening and Spoken Language Therapist. These activities are geared towards preschool and elementary age children.
4. Outdoor Exploration
Encourage kids to explore nature with activities like scavenger hunts, nature walks, and outdoor sports. These activities promote physical health and curiosity.
5. Pretend Play and Role-Playing
Create scenarios like restaurants or stores where kids can role-play. This helps them practice vocabulary, social skills, and imaginative play in a fun setting.
Check out our full blog to learn about more activities so you can ensure a summer full of fun, learning, and engagement for your kids.
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| Our BBQ, Brews, and Bluegrass event on June 9th was a tremendous success, and we couldn't have done it without you! From the fantastic bluegrass music to the delicious food and drinks, it was truly an event to remember.
We extend a heartfelt thank you to our attendees, musical guests, and everyone who contributed to making this event unforgettable. Your support means the world to us and helps us continue bringing our community together.
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- A scrumptious slow-smoked BBQ dinner courtesy of City Barbecue and R&M Blue Pig BBQ
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Ice-cold craft brews, wine, and other beverages provided by Total Wine and Ponysaurus Brewing
- Live bluegrass music from Slippery Hill Bluegrass that had everyone dancing
- Tour of the Hearing and Speech Clinic mobile unit from UNC Health
- Representatives from Duke Health on site with resources and information for families
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Bubbles, chalk activities, and outdoor games for the kids
- A Silent Auction featuring amazing prizes, including a wine tasting at Total Wine, dinner at The Angus Barn, a family pack of tickets to the NC Symphony, and more!
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A Heartfelt Thank You to Our Amazing Sponsors!
Gallaudet University, Sertoma NC, Sertoma Foundation, HLAA Wake Chapter, HLAA NC, TowneBank, Hales & Associates, Carolina Components Group, Duke Head and Neck Surgery & Communication Sciences Department, Gamewell Mechanical, Dr. Thomas Young, IAS NC, Maggie Clay Love Consulting, UNC Healthcare, Diane and Doug Doak.
In Kind Sponsors: R&M Blue Pig BBQ, City BBQ, Total Wine, Ponysaurus Durham.
We are incredibly grateful to all our sponsors for making our BBQ, Brews, and Bluegrass event a phenomenal success! Your generous support and commitment helped create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.
Thank you for being a vital part of our community and for helping us bring such joy and excitement to our event. We couldn't have done it without you!
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Give a Little to Make a BIG Impact |
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🌟 Empower Families and Make an Impact!
During the last year, our dedicated Parent Educators completed over 360 Initial Home Visits with families whose children are newly identified with hearing loss. 💙
You can make an impact by contributing through one-time gifts, sustaining gifts, matching gifts, or memorial & tribute donations. Every bit helps in empowering these families and supporting their journey.
🙏 Donate Today and be a part of our mission to create lasting change. Together, we can make a difference, one family at a time.
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Behind the Scenes with BEGINNINGS |
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Joanna Chantemerle
Associate Executive Director
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June has finally arrived and for the majority of the families we serve, another school year has come to an end. Parents and caregivers take on the ups and downs of navigating the special education process and being their child’s best advocate throughout the school year. Take time to recognize you and your child’s accomplishments and successes this school year and enjoy the summer break!
Summertime breaks are good to have for the family, but for children with special needs, there can be benefits and challenges. The day to day activities of the school year can be overwhelming and this time off gives them time to relax and reset for a new school year. For other children, the daily routines and activities in the classroom are helpful and needed.
Parents and caregivers should consider how to best balance the summer between taking a break and maintaining a structure that works best for their child and family. Consider creating a summer schedule that includes pool time, camps, therapies, playing with friends and family time. Provide educational and social activities and opportunities for your child to maintain or enhance their skills and consult with service providers for specific activities helpful specifically to your child.
We here at BEGINNINGS wish you a wonderful summer filled with fun, laughter, joy and quality family time. Enjoy your summer break, you all deserve it!
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Have a topic you'd like to see in an upcoming newsletter? Let us know! Send an email to marketing@ncbegin.org on any information you'd like us to feature in a future edition.
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