{"id":1016,"date":"2014-01-24T19:01:47","date_gmt":"2014-01-25T03:01:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/?p=1016"},"modified":"2014-04-27T14:34:58","modified_gmt":"2014-04-27T21:34:58","slug":"childrens-hearing-and-speech-centre-celebrates-its-50th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/2014\/01\/24\/childrens-hearing-and-speech-centre-celebrates-its-50th\/","title":{"rendered":"Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre celebrates 50th"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre of British Columbia. (photo from childrenshearing.ca<\/a>)<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Imagine not being able to hear. The silence. The isolation. Now imagine the sounds of kids singing, playing, asking questions at story time \u2013 even though they are deaf or hard of hearing. These and other happy sounds filled the halls and classrooms of the Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre of British Columbia when the Jewish Independent<\/i> recently toured the centre, which just celebrated its 50th year.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1963 as the Vancouver Oral Centre for Deaf Children by a group of parents with educator Hilda Gregory, CHSC\u2019s mission statement describes the facility as \u201ca family-focused clinical and educational centre that teaches deaf and hard-of-hearing children to listen and talk, giving them the skills and confidence they need to achieve their fullest potential.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the centre\u2019s website, \u201cGregory was one of a handful of deaf educators who believed that even children with profound hearing losses, wearing hearing aids, had enough residual hearing that they could learn to listen and talk. The model of small classes and individual sessions … is the one we still use today.\u201d<\/p>\n

When the centre was started by Gregory, explained Janet Weil, executive director\/principal of the CHSC, \u201cThere were no services for children under the age of 5. Hilda opened the first preschool for deaf children in Western Canada. What she did wasn\u2019t radical. There were programs throughout the world teaching deaf children how to speak. What she did do was create a place where deaf children, with the very best amplification (hearing aids) available and focused educational strategies, could learn to listen and talk. Parents were key, and so parent education was a requirement. Parents were very involved. They knew [it was] something special, and they did everything they could to support the well-being and sustainability of the centre.<\/p>\n

\u201cThings have changed,\u201d she said about developments over the last 50 years. \u201cChildren with profound hearing losses weren\u2019t being identified as DHH [deaf or hard of hearing] until they were sometimes 3 or 4 years old; and, with a more moderate loss, until they were in school and it was obvious they were missing things.\u201d Technological changes since the centre was started, however, \u201cinclude newborn screening, which identifies a hearing loss at birth, [and has been] mandated in B.C. for all newborns as of 2009. There is a small window of learning when the child is very young. Neural plasticity means a child can access auditory information with prescriptive hearing aids and cochlear implants. The first three years are critical to get information to the brain that can be processed with relative ease. It makes all the difference for typical language and speech development \u2013 [it] impacts everything, especially reading.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weil\u2019s uncle, born in the early part of the 20th century, was deaf. There was \u201cno access to amplification, but my grandmother worked diligently with him to learn to talk,\u201d said Weil. \u201cHe went to Stanford, graduated with a degree in English literature and became an editor of college textbooks. [He] never learned to sign, was a lip-reader and talker; very active in the San Francisco Jewish community. My mother was also a teacher of the deaf, so it\u2019s really the family business.\u201d<\/p>\n

About how she landed in Vancouver, Weil said, \u201cI was recruited to the centre in 2010. I had been a teacher of the deaf in the SF [San Francisco] Bay area for many years, a consultant to schools for the deaf in the U.S., and was the early childhood education director at the Brotherhood Way JCC in San Francisco for six years.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre of British Columbia offers programs that are not offered anywhere else in Western Canada, she said. \u201cWe see children from birth through Grade 12,\u201d she said about what makes CHSC unique. She explained that its \u201cvarious programs address individual needs,\u201d and the goal \u201cis to integrate the children into the mainstream of school and society with learning readiness skills and confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat we know about the brain and sensory learning underscores our commitment to a team approach that includes occupational therapy; weekly sessions for identified children to address processing, balance, motor skills, learning differences. On-site audiology services make sure children have ongoing access to sound.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The centre has a \u201ccognitively based curriculum that fosters critical thinking and independence,\u201d she added. As well, it recognizes that many of the deaf or hard-of-hearing children at the centre \u2013 more than 40 percent, she said \u2013 have additional learning needs. \u201cWhat we know about the brain and sensory learning underscores our commitment to a team approach that includes occupational therapy; weekly sessions for identified children to address processing, balance, motor skills, learning differences. On-site audiology services make sure children have ongoing access to sound.\u201d<\/p>\n

Weil sent the Independent<\/i> a document she had written about CHSC\u2019s work with sensory integration. About the children who have additional learning needs, she wrote, \u201cIn addition to having a hearing loss, they also have vestibular dysfunction. The vestibular system, which sits insides the cochlea or inner ear, can be compromised when there is a hearing loss. The vestibular system influences nearly everything we do. That is why it is often referred to as \u2018sensory motor integration.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u201cFor deaf and hard-of-hearing children, it impacts auditory language processing so that children have difficulty discriminating likenesses and differences in what they hear, as well as an inability to comprehend what is being said in a noisy environment, follow directions and express themselves with ease.<\/p>\n

\u201cOccupational therapists work with children to strengthen their vestibular systems, which improves their ability to play and learn,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

In addition to occupational therapy, CHSC offers \u201cspeech and language therapy, parent education and support, before- and after-school care, music education and summer camp,\u201d according to its website. First Words is CHSC\u2019s program for children from birth to age 3; preschool and \u201clanguage acceleration programs provide group and one-to-one sessions addressing each child\u2019s specific learning needs. Small, individually focused, on-site classes begin at age 3 and continue, if recommended, through the primary grades.\u201d<\/p>\n

To help with children\u2019s transition out of the centre, into public school or post-Grade 12, Weil explained that there are social groups for the kids, there are workshops for the high school to post-secondary jump, and the centre provides itinerant teaching services to children in independent schools. Some graduates participate in fundraising activities, she added.<\/p>\n

One of CHSC\u2019s itinerant students is Rina Pinsky, 15, who is in Grade 10 at King David High School. The youngest of four children, Pinksy told the Independent<\/i> that she was diagnosed when she was 2 years old. \u201cThe type of hearing I have is called bilateral profound hearing loss, which means I am completely deaf in both ears,\u201d she said. \u201cOn my left ear, I have a cochlear implant and I use an FM system at school, which helps me hear teachers better.\u201d<\/p>\n

She started going to the Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre when she was 3 years old, and left after Grade 1. \u201cSince then,\u201d she said, \u201cI\u2019ve had a hearing resource teacher from there. I still go back to the school to visit or volunteer for events.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cI went to CHSC to learn how to talk, listen, and how to interact with other people. Now, with all of that support, I am doing well in school and I\u2019m able to be independent. I read from the Torah at my bat mitzvah in 2011, I am part of United Synagogue Youth (USY) and I have been to two Jewish summer camps (Camp Solomon Schechter, 2007-2012, and Camp Miriam, 2012-present). All of this would never have happened if it weren\u2019t for the staff at CHSC.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

About how the CHSC has impacted her life, Pinsky said, \u201cI went to CHSC to learn how to talk, listen, and how to interact with other people. Now, with all of that support, I am doing well in school and I\u2019m able to be independent. I read from the Torah at my bat mitzvah in 2011, I am part of United Synagogue Youth (USY) and I have been to two Jewish summer camps (Camp Solomon Schechter, 2007-2012, and Camp Miriam, 2012-present). All of this would never have happened if it weren\u2019t for the staff at CHSC. I see Tricia [Eckels] twice a week at my school. We work on homework, editing papers, talking about my cochlear implant and FM system. Sometimes, we talk about current events.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked to share something about her interests and\/or extracurricular activities, Pinsky told the Independent<\/i>, \u201cI love to cook and bake, which makes me want to go to culinary school after high school. Once a week, I do hip-hop at the Jewish Community Centre [of Greater Vancouver]. Traveling is one of my favorite things to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pinsky is one of the hundreds of students that CHSC has taught since it opened. Among Weil\u2019s \u201cblue sky\u201d plans for the centre is reaching out to more children, with more training programs for new teachers and satellite programs (classes outside of Metro Vancouver). This would be in conjunction, of course, with maintaining the services currently being offered. The third annual Family Concert, for example, will raise funds to support CHSC\u2019s audiology program. \u201cWe do not receive government funding for this critical service,\u201d explained Weil, \u201cso we must fundraise to be able to provide this vital service that ensures our children are always able to hear.\u201d<\/p>\n

The family event has grown from one to two performances, both of which this year will feature children\u2019s entertainer Jennifer Gasoi, a two-time Juno nominee whose Throw a Penny in the Wishing Well<\/i> was nominated for a 2014 Grammy for best children\u2019s album. (For interested readers, the Grammy ceremony takes place this Sunday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m., and will be televised.)<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat an idea,\u201d said Weil about the fundraiser, \u201chaving a music concert to support children who are deaf and hard of hearing because they <\/i>can listen and sing and make music. A great way to highlight what is possible…. A great way to reach out to families in the community for a fun day and to let them know something about what we do.\u201d The event at the JCCGV\u2019s Rothstein Theatre will also feature clowns, games, auction items and face painting.<\/p>\n

Weil said the suggestion to invite Gasoi came from committee member Marla Groberman.<\/p>\n

\u201cMarla worked with Jennifer\u2019s parents, Dr. Ivan and Laurie Gasoi, and it was agreed upon,\u201d said Weil. Given the local connection and the fact that many of the production committee members are involved in the Jewish community, Weil said that the JCCGV \u201cseemed like the perfect place to have the concert.\u201d<\/p>\n

The concerts will take place on April 12, at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Early-bird tickets (until Feb. 28) are $13.50\/$16.50, or $50 for a family of four (two adults and two children under 17). For tickets and information, visit childrenshearing.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Children\u2019s Hearing and Speech Centre of British Columbia. (photo from childrenshearing.ca) Imagine not being able to hear. The silence. The isolation. Now imagine the sounds of kids singing, playing, asking questions at story time \u2013 even though they are deaf or hard of hearing. These and other happy sounds filled the halls and classrooms […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[274,276,277,170,175,275],"class_list":["post-1016","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-local","tag-childrens-hearing-and-speech-centre-of-british-columbia","tag-hilda-gregory","tag-janet-weil","tag-jennifer-gasoi","tag-rothstein-theatre","tag-vancouver-oral-centre-for-deaf-children"],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1016","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1016"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1016\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1016"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1016"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jewishindependent.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1016"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}