Deaf Awareness Week is an annual celebration dedicated to raising awareness about Deafness, Deaf Culture, and the rights of Deaf Individuals. This year, we joined the global community in commemorating Deaf Awareness Week from May 6 to May 12. 

At BEGINNINGS, we're committed to advocating for inclusivity and accessibility for the Deaf Community. Through our programs, resources, and outreach efforts, we aim to break down barriers and create a more inclusive society.

👂 Did you know? May 4 - 10 is Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week! 👂

Late Onset Hearing Loss Awareness Week was established in May 2021 by the Olive Osmond Hearing Fund to shine a spotlight on a population of young children who go unnoticed and undiagnosed because they passed the newborn hearing screen, but developed hearing loss later on. 👶

Let's spread awareness and ensure every child receives the support they need. Together, we can make a difference! 💙

Hurricane season begins on June 1 and now is the time to get prepared. ⚠️🌀

⏯️Check out this video from the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) to learn more about hurricanes and how you can get prepared this season!

🎶🍖🍻 Get Ready to Jam at Our BBQ, Brews, and Bluegrass Event! 🎉🎻

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable evening of toe-tapping tunes, mouthwatering BBQ, and refreshing brews at our BBQ, Brews, and Bluegrass event! 🎶🍖🍻

Join us on June 9 at The Durham Exchange for a celebration filled with live bluegrass music, delicious BBQ, and activities for the kids. Whether you're a bluegrass enthusiast or just looking for a fun night out with friends and family, this event promises something for everyone!

Don't miss out on the chance to connect with other organizations and families with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community! 

Ghyedis Paredes, Hispanic Outreach Parent Educator, joins the Jijon Rosas family for a photo op at the Charlotte Hispanic Family Retreat on May 4.

We had the pleasure of catching up with the Jijon Rosas Family at our Charlotte Hispanic Family Retreat on May 4. 

The Jijon Rosas Family currently lives in Charlotte and moved here from the state of Guerrero in Mexico.  They welcomed Zoe during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, where she was diagnosed with profound Hearing Loss in both ears. Zoe was also diagnosed with Autism at the age of 2.5.

BEGINNINGS has been a huge part of their journey over these past 3 years, and the Family has felt like Hispanic Outreach Parent Educator, Gheydis Paredes, has been a blessing in their lives and an angel sent from above to guide them in their daughter's Hearing Loss journey.

When they first got Zoe's diagnosis, Zoe's parents felt like they were alone and did not understand the Hearing Loss diagnosis nor what resources were available to support her at that time. Gheydis helped them connect with the medical team, who presented options of different hearing technology that was available. Zoe's parents elected for a Cochlear Implant (CI) surgery, and Gheydis was able to walk them through the CI process in a way they could understand to make better decisions for Zoe. Gheydis even went with them to support Zoe on the CI activation date, which her parents were so appreciative. 

In addition, Gheydis helped the Jijon Rosas Family get connected to Early Intervention services and community resources, like parent support groups.  She assisted them with navigating their local public school system during Zoe's transition into Pre-K to make sure she was provided all the resources needed. 

Zoe's parents are very proud of her progress with learning ASL. Their goal for her is to continue learning how to communicate, with the hope she can communicate using ASL in English and Spanish. 

The best piece of advice Zoe's parents wanted to share with other families who have just received a hearing loss diagnosis for their daughter is "Do not get discouraged by the diagnosis. Ask as many questions as you feel is needed. Look for community resources and get involved with BEGINNINGS and a Parent Educator that can guide you, teach you, and support you."

Thanks to the Jijon Rosas Family for attending our Family Retreat in Charlotte and allowing Gheydis and BEGINNINGS to support you on Zoe's Hearing Loss journey!

Joanna Chantemerle, Associate Executive Director at BEGINNINGS, met with Gilberto Meza-Corral from the Concord Fire Department and many other stakeholders as part of a pilot project to provide free bed shaker alarms for children and adults who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. 

The goal of this project is to reduce the injury and loss of lives of those individuals with hearing loss in Cabarrus County.  The free bed shakers and custom evacuation plans will provide an extra layer of safety allowing for escape during a fire or carbon monoxide related emergency. 

If you reside in Cabarrus County and are interested in learning more about this program or want to apply for a free bed shaker contact:  Gilberto Meza-Corral at fmo@concordnc.gov or 704-920-6058.

Our team hosted a Hispanic Family Retreat on May 4th at Morning Star Lutheran Church in Charlotte.  Families traveled from several counties to attend this free retreat for a day full of learning, sharing and fun!

Parents and caregivers were able to network with other families and learn about resources and tools available while their children met new friends and created arts and crafts.  

The Council for Children's Rights provided more information on the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process and how to best advocate for your child at school. Dr. Edith M. Nieves Lopez, Founder of Developedia Consulting, also presented and provided tools for caregivers to foster wellness and resiliency.

✨ Donor Spotlight: Honoring the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Agape Chapter, Raleigh ✨

This month, we shine a spotlight on the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society, Agape Chapter, Raleigh, whose generosity and compassion has made a profound impact on our Grants to Parents program, which supports families across the state by covering hearing-related costs for children that are not usually covered by insurance. Their passion and advocacy has amplified our efforts and brought us closer to our goals.

BEGINNINGS would like to extend our appreciation for their kindness, generosity, and dedication to making a difference.

Pictured Left to Right: Ellen Fort, BEGINNINGS Director of Development, and Anita Lyford, representative from the Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society.

🌟 A Huge Thank You to Our Sponsors for our BBQ, Brews and Bluegrass event! 🌟

We want to extend our deepest gratitude to our incredible sponsors for their generous support! Your commitment and dedication make it possible for us to support families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing children in all 100 counties across the state of North Carolina. 

Thank you for believing in our mission and investing in our cause. Your partnership is invaluable to us and helps us make a real difference in the lives of our families. We appreciate your support for our upcoming BBQ, Brews and Bluegrass event so we can continue empowering parents to advocate for their child’s needs.

Let's give a round of applause to these outstanding sponsors for their unwavering support! 👏👏

Diane Doak

Executive Director

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