On a crisp Sunday in October, the community surrounding Listen and Talk gathered at the organization’s Kirkland campus to mark a significant milestone: 29 years of pioneering service in the field of auditory-verbal therapy. The event served a dual purpose, functioning as a nostalgic celebration of the nonprofit’s founding while simultaneously acting as the ceremonial finish line for the organization’s inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser. This landmark event drew alumni families, current students, and dedicated supporters, highlighting the organization’s transformation from a grassroots home-based initiative into a premier educational institution for children with hearing loss.
The Genesis of a Specialized Mission
The story of Listen and Talk began nearly three decades ago in the home of Star Leonard-Fleckman, a teacher of the deaf and a dedicated auditory-verbal therapist. Recognizing a profound gap in the available support systems for families navigating pediatric hearing loss, Leonard-Fleckman established the organization with a singular vision: to empower children with hearing loss to listen, speak, and thrive in a hearing-dominant world.
In its infancy, the program was a boutique operation, yet its efficacy quickly earned it a reputation for excellence. Over the ensuing 29 years, the organization has expanded its reach significantly. Today, Listen and Talk provides comprehensive services to over 200 families annually across Washington state. Its service delivery model has evolved from exclusively in-person instruction to a hybrid approach, incorporating virtual sessions that allow the organization to extend its reach to underserved or geographically isolated areas.
Chronology of Growth and Service Expansion
The trajectory of Listen and Talk reflects the broader evolution of auditory-verbal therapy and hearing technology. In the early 1990s, the focus was primarily on initial diagnostics and basic intervention. As cochlear implant technology and high-fidelity hearing aids became more sophisticated, Listen and Talk pivoted to integrate these technological advancements into their therapeutic curriculum.
The organizational timeline is marked by key structural milestones:
- 1996: Founding of the program by Star Leonard-Fleckman.
- Early 2000s: Formalization of the Birth to Three Program, emphasizing the critical window of neuroplasticity in early childhood development.
- 2010s: Development of the Blended Classroom Program, which integrates children with typical hearing and those with hearing loss to foster natural language modeling.
- 2020–2025: Implementation of robust virtual outreach services, allowing for a broader statewide footprint.
Today, the institution’s service portfolio includes comprehensive Audiology, Speech and Language Therapy, parent education, and the aforementioned Blended Classroom. This multi-faceted approach ensures that children not only receive technical support for their hearing devices but also undergo the rigorous cognitive and linguistic training necessary to communicate without the long-term reliance on interpreters or non-spoken forms of communication.
The Inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll Success
The recent fundraising initiative, the inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll, represented a new chapter in the organization’s donor engagement strategy. By organizing localized events in communities such as Edmonds, Woodinville, the Olympic Peninsula, and Green Lake, Listen and Talk successfully decentralized the participation process, allowing supporters to contribute in a manner that suited their physical capabilities and geographic location.
The event’s financial performance exceeded initial projections. The organization reported that participants raised over $10,000, a figure that was subsequently matched in full by founder Star Leonard-Fleckman. With additional ongoing donations, the total funds raised surpassed $26,000. These funds are designated for the maintenance of specialized classroom equipment, professional development for staff, and the expansion of the outreach program, which provides essential support to families regardless of their primary language.
Professional Perspectives on Auditory-Verbal Therapy
Executive Director Maura Berndsen emphasized the importance of the event, noting that the presence of alumni students—some of whom have returned as parents—serves as the ultimate metric of the organization’s success. “The goal has always been to provide children with the skills to participate in any environment,” Berndsen stated during the festivities. “Seeing our former students now leading successful, independent lives is a testament to the efficacy of the listening and spoken language approach.”
From an educational standpoint, the methodology at Listen and Talk is built on the principle of self-advocacy. By coaching parents as the primary educators of their children, the organization ensures that the therapy is not confined to a clinical setting but is woven into the fabric of the child’s daily life. This is particularly vital in the context of the organization’s diverse demographic, which currently includes families who speak more than 30 different languages.
Analysis of Impact and Future Outlook
The broader implications of Listen and Talk’s work are rooted in the long-term economic and social benefits of early intervention. Research in pediatric audiology consistently demonstrates that children who receive consistent, high-quality auditory-verbal therapy in their early years show significantly higher rates of integration into mainstream educational settings. By equipping children with the tools to reason, think independently, and communicate intelligibly, the program minimizes the long-term socioeconomic disparities often associated with hearing loss.
The organization’s focus on "language of the heart and home" is a strategic move to ensure that linguistic diversity does not hinder cognitive development. By supporting families in their native language while providing the child with English-based listening and spoken language skills, Listen and Talk preserves family dynamics while opening doors to the wider community.
Looking ahead to its third decade, the leadership at Listen and Talk remains focused on scalability. The success of the recent Founder’s Day celebration—highlighted by a reading session in the Kirkland campus’s Discovery Room—reinforced the need for physical and digital spaces that prioritize interaction and community. The organization is currently exploring ways to increase its capacity for virtual diagnostics, which would lower the barrier to entry for families in rural Washington.
Community Commitment and Donor Stewardship
The overwhelming support for the Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser highlights a shift in how nonprofits in the disability sector are engaging with their donor base. By moving toward a community-participatory model, Listen and Talk has successfully transformed its donor base into an active network of advocates. The fact that the fundraiser involved participants ranging from ages 1 to 100 underscores the universal appeal of the organization’s mission.
As the organization looks toward the future, the financial stability provided by the recent fundraising success will allow for the continued professional development of its audiology team. The rapid pace of change in hearing technology necessitates ongoing training to ensure that the staff remains at the cutting edge of device fitting, programming, and troubleshooting.
Conclusion: A Vision for the Future
The 29th-anniversary celebration was more than a commemorative event; it was a demonstration of institutional longevity and community resilience. By maintaining a clear focus on the fundamental goal—ensuring that no child is limited by hearing loss—Listen and Talk continues to set a standard for specialized early intervention education.
For families currently seeking services, the organization remains a beacon of accessibility. Through its website, Listen and Talk provides resources for parents to identify the signs of hearing loss, understand the benefits of early diagnosis, and connect with other families who have navigated the same path. As the organization moves toward its 30th anniversary, the commitment to its core mission remains unwavering: to foster a world where listening and spoken language are accessible to every child, regardless of their starting point. The success of the recent festivities and the inaugural fundraiser confirms that the community is not only ready but eager to support the next 29 years of this vital work.
