Governor Roy Cooper has officially proclaimed October 2024 as “Protect Your Hearing Month” in North Carolina. His proclamation highlights the importance of raising awareness about hearing health and preventing noise-induced hearing loss. According to the proclamation, “nearly 48 million Americans experience some form of hearing loss, with one in five teenagers now showing signs of hearing damage due to excessive noise exposure”.

The month-long observance encourages individuals to take proactive steps to protect their hearing. This includes using hearing protection in loud environments, turning down the volume on personal listening devices, and getting regular hearing check-ups.

As part of Protect Your Hearing Month, North Carolinians are encouraged to educate themselves on the dangers of loud noise and how it can affect not only hearing but overall well-being. Taking steps now can help ensure that we enjoy healthy hearing for years to come.

October is National Audiology Awareness Month!

On October 10th, we recognized the incredible work of audiologists for World Audiologist Day! 

Audiologists are the primary health-care professionals dedicated to evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and managing hearing loss and balance disorders in individuals of all ages—from infants and teens to adults and the elderly. They play a vital role in improving our quality of life through better hearing and balance.

For the Stewart family, life is full of adventure, joy, and togetherness. Whether it's exploring local racetracks, hiking through scenic trails, spending time at parks, or enjoying arts and crafts, they love being active and making memories with family and friends. Jaelyn, their 12-year-old, and Miles, who is 2, join in the fun alongside their youngest addition, Devin, who is just 3 months old.

Devin’s arrival brought not only joy but also unexpected challenges. Born with hearing loss, Devin now uses hearing aids to experience the world around him. His family has embraced this journey wholeheartedly, and with the support of BEGINNINGS, they’ve found comfort in knowing they are not alone.

“Being first-time parents of a child with hearing loss was overwhelming at first,” Devin’s mother shared. “But working with BEGINNINGS has erased our worries about navigating resources and Devin’s future education. We are so grateful to have a program like this to support our child.”

One of the most rewarding moments for the Stewarts has been watching how well Devin has adapted to his hearing aids. “The way his face lights up when we put them on is incredible,” his mom said with pride. Devin’s resilience and joy have been a source of strength and inspiration for the entire family.

As they continue to explore new activities and spend time together, the Stewarts remain grateful for the guidance and resources that have helped them along the way. With BEGINNINGS by their side, they are confident in giving Devin the best start in life, surrounded by love and adventure.

In the short time Devin has been a part of their family, the Stewarts have seen remarkable growth in him, and they look forward to the future with excitement and hope. From his joyful reactions to wearing his hearing aids to their newfound confidence as parents, the journey ahead is filled with promise.

Being a mother of a child with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is like walking through a world that looks familiar but sounds completely different. Every day, we face challenges that most people don’t even think about. From the outside, my child looks just like any other. But in the classroom, the chaos of overlapping sounds—the teacher's voice, the shuffling of papers, the hum of air conditioning—turns into an overwhelming blur. It’s hard for him to grasp the important details, to know what he’s supposed to do when the instructions are swallowed up by noise.

Every morning, I see his struggle. He wakes up wanting to do well, to fit in, and to succeed. I remind him that he’s smart, that he has so much potential. But deep down, there’s a pang of worry: will today be the day he comes home feeling defeated? Will he fall behind again because the world didn’t slow down enough for him to catch up?

Academically, APD makes everything more complicated. Following multi-step directions becomes a mountain to climb. Simple instructions like “finish your math problems, then read a chapter” are often jumbled, leaving him lost and confused. He isn’t lazy, but sometimes the teachers mistake his slow processing for a lack of effort. I’ve had countless meetings, pleading for more understanding, for accommodations that truly help. Sometimes we win those battles, sometimes we don’t.

At home, the struggles continue. Homework can take hours—what should be a 30-minute task turns into a long evening of trying to break through the frustration. I’ve learned to repeat instructions slowly, to break everything down into bite-sized pieces. But even then, it’s exhausting. For both of us.

And on the soccer field, it’s no different. When the coach gives directions to the whole group, my son can never be the first one to jump into a drill. He needs to observe, to watch what the other players are doing because, without a visual, the instructions are lost in the noise. This often means he's a step behind at first, not because he doesn't know what to do, but because he has to process in his own way. I watch him navigate these moments, sometimes with frustration but always with resilience, as he learns to balance his love for the game with the extra effort it takes to participate fully.

Now that he’s a teenager, he’s come to understand his differences more clearly. He’s learned how to accommodate his world, both in and out of school, to fit his needs. More importantly, he’s become an incredible advocate for himself. When he doesn’t understand something, he asks for clarification without hesitation and he will remind me or others, please repeat that slowly, something that just a few years ago he would not dare do especially in the classroom.  This is something that fills me with immense pride.

We take it one day at a time, finding hope in small moments, knowing that despite the struggles, he’s capable of amazing things. APD may be a part of our lives, but it will never define who he is or limit how far he can go.

--Anonymous mother of a wonderful young man

We’re just one month away from the 5th Annual Oyster Roast & BBQ benefiting BEGINNINGS, and tickets are going fast! 🎉 This family-friendly event is back, and we’d love for you to join us for a day filled with food, fun, and community spirit – all while supporting a cause that makes a real difference in the lives of families across North Carolina.

📅 Date: Sunday, November 17, 2024
🕒 Time: 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Location: North Hills Club, 4824 Yadkin Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609

SPECIAL OFFER FOR BEGINNINGS FAMILIES
Families enrolled with BEGINNINGS can contact Joanna Chantemerle for a special discount code before purchasing.

What’s Included with Your Ticket:

🦪 Fresh Oysters
🍖 BBQ
🎈 Children’s Activities
🍷 Beer & Wine
🛍️ Live & Silent Auction

Thanks to Our Sponsors
We’re deeply grateful to our sponsors, including TowneBank, Comerica Bank, Sertoma of Raleigh, UNC Health, WakeMed ENT – Head and Neck Surgery, Speech Therapy Solutions, Gallaudet University, Duke Head & Neck Surgery & Communications Sciences, Maggie Clay Love Consulting, Raleigh Educational Coaching, Bailey & Dixon LLP, and G. Peyton Maynard and Associates for their generous support. A special thanks to our in-kind sponsors: Earps Seafood, Bunn DJ Company, R&M Blue Pig BBQ, Total Wine, Wegmans, Bowstring Brewery, and Longleaf Swine.

📅✨ Mark Your Calendar! ✨📅 

📅 Date: March 2, 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Ballantyne, Charlotte

BEGINNINGS for Parents of Children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing invites you to our Spring 2025 Community Connections event! 🎉 This family-friendly day will be include:

🍽️ Lunch Buffet
🍺 Handcrafted Beers
🎨 Children's Activities
🏆 Live & Silent Auctions

Come for the food, fun, and community spirit – all while supporting a cause that makes a difference in the lives of families across North Carolina! 💙✨

🎟️ Tickets will be available soon—stay tuned for more details!

🎉BEGINNINGS was happy to participate in the annual North Carolina HLAA Walk4Hearing on October 13th at the WakeMed Soccer Field in Cary.🌟 

This event welcomed over 360 participants from 36 teams. 🏃‍♀️🏃‍♂️ BEGINNINGS was recognized for having the largest team registered for the event! 🎖️

Joanna Chantemerle, Sheri Little and Wilma Rivera were there to share information and talk to families and professionals about our mission, services and resources. 💬💖The weather was beautiful and a great time was had by all! ☀️🎈

🎉 Make an Impact! Sponsor Our 5th Annual Oyster Roast & BBQ Benefiting BEGINNINGS! 🦪

Join us for a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on families of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing across North Carolina. Our 5th Annual Oyster Roast & BBQ is a beloved community event, attracting families, advocates, health care professionals, and local leaders for a day of food, fun, and giving back.

Event Details:
📅 Sunday, November 17, 2024
🕒 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
📍 North Hills Club, Raleigh

Sponsorship Opportunities:
🤝 Friend of BEGINNINGS – $250
2 tickets + social media recognition

🔥 Firepit Fan – $500
4 tickets + name on event signage + social media recognition
🍔 'Cue Fan – $1,000
6 tickets + event recognition + logo on event signage + social media shout-out

🏆 Event Sponsor – $2,500
8 tickets + website recognition until Nov. 30, 2024 + logo on event signage with prime visibility

🌟 Underwriter – $5,000
12 tickets + website logo recognition + top visibility on event signage + premium social media recognition 

Don’t miss the chance to make a difference! 

Diane Doak, 
Executive Director

It was just 2 weeks ago that Hurricane Helene moved through the western part of North Carolina. As I listen to the Governor’s Hurricane Recovery press conferences, I continue to be overwhelmed by the devastation to our state. But there has been progress made with so many state, local, and federal agencies working around the clock to restore basic services. More than 400 roads have been reopened and many families have had power and phone service restored. I’ve seen wonderful examples of neighbors helping neighbors by cutting trees, volunteering at food and relief centers, and providing transportation. But local authorities continue to ask that non-residents not travel to the mountains so that the roads can be kept clear for recovery agencies. So how can we help?!

BEGINNINGS’ Parent Educators have been reaching out to families that we serve in the area to connect and offer support. There are 5 school districts that may be closed indefinitely, but many school districts have returned to classes this week or plan to return next week. Parents whose children are Deaf or Hard of Hearing can reach out to their Parent Educator if they need help having their Exceptional Children’s Services restarted or if their need for accommodations have changed. And, as the year progresses, we are available to help you review your child’s eligibility for summer services.

Our Grants to Parents Program helps parents fund hearing expenses that aren’t covered by insurance, such as batteries, accessories, repairs, and transportation costs to go to audiology appointments. We know that the needs for families in Western North Carolina will be greater and more urgent. In response, we are currently revising our Grants to Parents program to accept applications from parents more often, to get award payments to parents more quickly, and to help parents without internet access complete those applications. We will be announcing those updates over the next few weeks on our website and Facebook page. This is just a small way that we can help our families.

We know that the needs for families will continue to be greater for many months. Please consider donating to our Grants to Parents Program if you would like to help us support our families in Western North Carolina.

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.