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LOFT participants learn they are not alone

LOFT participants learn they are not alone HE A R I N G & Children By Ken Levinson Last June I directed the seventh got out of LOFT. LOFT was absolutely other hearing-impaired people. My Leadership Opportunities for Teens life changing for her. It gave her a opinions count. I don’t need to hide my (LOFT) program at the biennial chance to realize how smart, funny, hearing impairment.” convention of the Alexander Graham outgoing, and strong she really is.” Others talked about what they Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard Another parent talked about her learned: ”LOFT taught me how to get of Hearing. What an amazing experi- 17-year-old daughter, who wears hearing along with other people, and how not ence! The 2008 program was the first aids for a moderate-severe sensorineural only to lead, but also to listen. LOFT where we were able to offer scholar- loss. “She was skeptical about LOFT. really taught me to speak up and advo- ships to families who could not cate, not only for myself, but otherwise send their teenage also for others.” children. And for the first time, One participant’s short state- all participants used cell ment summarizes it well: “I am phones, a testament to new not alone. There are other peo- technologies provided through ple my age struggling with the better hearing aids and cochlear same problems I struggle with.” implants. LOFT has been so successful LOFT is for deaf or hard-of- that AG Bell is considering ways hearing high school students to expand it to reach more A group of the LOFT students showed off team projects. who use listening and talking as teenagers. One idea is to hold it their primary means of communication. She didn’t want to talk about hearing annually, instead of every 2 years. Also Over 3 days, the participants learned to impairments all week. But afterwards, under consideration is to offer LOFT in (1) speak in front of the group; (2) she came toward me with tears in her different parts of the country. We’ve even engage in team activities; (3) debate envi- eyes saying, ‘This was the best thing I’ve had requests to bring it to Europe, ronmental issues and agree on a resolu- ever done! Thank you so much for Australia, and Central America. tion to their issue; (4) do outdoor team having me come here!’ I watched her My goal is to bring this wonderful exercises; and (5) learn about advocacy interact with the other teens she had program to as many teens as possible, from visiting experts and discussion gotten so close with, saw them talking, regardless of their ability to pay. If anyone exercises. laughing, hugging, taking pictures with wishes to sponsor or fund scholarships The most important part of LOFT, each other. Thank you so much for for LOFT participants, AG Bell would however, is the development of self- making her experience so meaningful love to hear from you. Please contact esteem and lasting friendships. As and memorable. You are doing a won- Howard Silberstein at hsilberstein@ one parent put it, “Since my daughter derful service to these teens.” agbell.com. is the only child in her school with a Ken Levinson is a past President of AG Bell and CI, she was desperate to find kids ‘like A BOOST FOR SELF-ESTEEM current President of the Board of the Circus Center of San her’ who understood her problems. The teenagers also praised LOFT. One Francisco. He is also a current or past member of Gallaudet Meeting teens from around the coun- girl, displaying new self-esteem, said, University, several Option schools, and organizations serving try and making close connections with “I am worthy of leading others. I have children with hearing impairments. He is a principal of a them was the most significant thing she much to give my friends, family, and CPA firm and a bilateral implant user. Hearing & Children sponsored by Making it easier to help children with hearing problems achieve their full potential 1-888-OTI-PED1 (1-888-684-7331) MARCH 2009 • VOL. 62 • NO. 3 Hearing & Children THE HEARING JOURNAL 61 http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png The Hearing Journal Wolters Kluwer Health

LOFT participants learn they are not alone

Levinson, Ken
The Hearing Journal , Volume 62 (3) – Mar 1, 2009
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Copyright
© 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
ISSN
0745-7472
eISSN
2333-6218
DOI
10.1097/01.HJ.0000348527.52590.a4
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Abstract

HE A R I N G & Children By Ken Levinson Last June I directed the seventh got out of LOFT. LOFT was absolutely other hearing-impaired people. My Leadership Opportunities for Teens life changing for her. It gave her a opinions count. I don’t need to hide my (LOFT) program at the biennial chance to realize how smart, funny, hearing impairment.” convention of the Alexander Graham outgoing, and strong she really is.” Others talked about what they Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard Another parent talked about her learned: ”LOFT taught me how to get of Hearing. What an amazing experi- 17-year-old daughter, who wears hearing along with other people, and how not ence! The 2008 program was the first aids for a moderate-severe sensorineural only to lead, but also to listen. LOFT where we were able to offer scholar- loss. “She was skeptical about LOFT. really taught me to speak up and advo- ships to families who could not cate, not only for myself, but otherwise send their teenage also for others.” children. And for the first time, One participant’s short state- all participants used cell ment summarizes it well: “I am phones, a testament to new not alone. There are other peo- technologies provided through ple my age struggling with the better hearing aids and cochlear same problems I struggle with.” implants. LOFT has been so successful LOFT is for deaf or hard-of- that AG Bell is considering ways hearing high school students to expand it to reach more A group of the LOFT students showed off team projects. who use listening and talking as teenagers. One idea is to hold it their primary means of communication. She didn’t want to talk about hearing annually, instead of every 2 years. Also Over 3 days, the participants learned to impairments all week. But afterwards, under consideration is to offer LOFT in (1) speak in front of the group; (2) she came toward me with tears in her different parts of the country. We’ve even engage in team activities; (3) debate envi- eyes saying, ‘This was the best thing I’ve had requests to bring it to Europe, ronmental issues and agree on a resolu- ever done! Thank you so much for Australia, and Central America. tion to their issue; (4) do outdoor team having me come here!’ I watched her My goal is to bring this wonderful exercises; and (5) learn about advocacy interact with the other teens she had program to as many teens as possible, from visiting experts and discussion gotten so close with, saw them talking, regardless of their ability to pay. If anyone exercises. laughing, hugging, taking pictures with wishes to sponsor or fund scholarships The most important part of LOFT, each other. Thank you so much for for LOFT participants, AG Bell would however, is the development of self- making her experience so meaningful love to hear from you. Please contact esteem and lasting friendships. As and memorable. You are doing a won- Howard Silberstein at hsilberstein@ one parent put it, “Since my daughter derful service to these teens.” agbell.com. is the only child in her school with a Ken Levinson is a past President of AG Bell and CI, she was desperate to find kids ‘like A BOOST FOR SELF-ESTEEM current President of the Board of the Circus Center of San her’ who understood her problems. The teenagers also praised LOFT. One Francisco. He is also a current or past member of Gallaudet Meeting teens from around the coun- girl, displaying new self-esteem, said, University, several Option schools, and organizations serving try and making close connections with “I am worthy of leading others. I have children with hearing impairments. He is a principal of a them was the most significant thing she much to give my friends, family, and CPA firm and a bilateral implant user. Hearing & Children sponsored by Making it easier to help children with hearing problems achieve their full potential 1-888-OTI-PED1 (1-888-684-7331) MARCH 2009 • VOL. 62 • NO. 3 Hearing & Children THE HEARING JOURNAL 61

Journal

The Hearing Journal – Wolters Kluwer Health

Published: Mar 1, 2009

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