Listen and Talk, a premier organization dedicated to listening and spoken language (LSL) education for children with hearing loss, recently marked its 29th anniversary with a dual celebration. The event served as both a commemorative Founder’s Day and the triumphant conclusion of the organization’s inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser. Held on a Sunday in late October at the organization’s Kirkland campus, the event drew together current families, alumni, staff, and supporters to reflect on nearly three decades of progress in auditory-verbal therapy and community-based education.
A Legacy Born from a Singular Vision
The history of Listen and Talk is rooted in the professional commitment of its founder, Star Leonard-Fleckman, a teacher of the deaf and auditory-verbal therapist. Twenty-nine years ago, the organization began as a grassroots effort operating out of Leonard-Fleckman’s private residence. At the time, the landscape for children with hearing loss was significantly different, with fewer resources available for families seeking to integrate their children into mainstream hearing environments through spoken language.
What started as a small-scale clinical endeavor has since expanded into a robust regional institution. Today, Listen and Talk provides services to more than 200 families across Washington state, utilizing a hybrid model of in-person therapy and virtual outreach. The organization’s growth trajectory reflects a broader shift in pediatric audiology, moving toward early intervention as the gold standard for long-term developmental success. The curriculum has evolved to encompass a wide range of specialized services, including birth-to-three early intervention, audiology diagnostics, intensive speech therapy, and the Blended Classroom Program, which bridges the gap between specialized instruction and mainstream social environments.
The Inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll: A Financial Milestone
The 29th-anniversary celebration served as the final milestone for the organization’s first-ever Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser. The initiative was designed to diversify the organization’s funding streams while fostering community engagement across various Washington locales, including Edmonds, Woodinville, the Olympic Peninsula, and the Green Lake neighborhood in Seattle.
The campaign proved to be a significant success, surpassing initial financial benchmarks. According to organizational reports, the event raised over $10,000 in community donations. This total was further amplified by a matching grant provided by Leonard-Fleckman, which brought the total funds raised to over $26,000. These funds are earmarked for the direct support of the organization’s LSL programs, which facilitate the acquisition of speech and language skills without the reliance on formal sign-language interpretation, a key component of the organization’s philosophy of self-advocacy.
The fundraiser demonstrated high levels of participation across age groups, with attendees ranging from toddlers to centenarians. This demographic breadth highlights the intergenerational support network that Listen and Talk has cultivated since its inception in the mid-1990s.
Clinical Philosophy and Educational Impact
At the core of Listen and Talk’s operational model is the application of auditory-verbal therapy (AVT). This methodology emphasizes the development of the brain’s ability to process sound, allowing children with hearing loss to learn by listening to their environment. The goal, as articulated by the organization’s leadership, is to provide children with the cognitive and linguistic tools necessary for independent thought, complex reasoning, and the ability to maintain meaningful relationships in a predominantly hearing-centric society.
The organization currently serves families from diverse backgrounds, supporting speakers of over thirty different languages. This inclusivity is central to the mission of ensuring that families can communicate with their children in the "language of their heart and home." By coaching parents and caregivers, the organization ensures that the therapy does not end in the clinic but continues in the home environment, which is widely recognized in pediatric development studies as a critical factor for long-term success.
Celebrating Alumni and Community Continuity
A defining feature of the Founder’s Day event was the presence of alumni students who have successfully transitioned into adulthood. Among the attendees was Katharine Wile, an alumnus of the program who returned with her own child to participate in the day’s activities. The sight of a second-generation student engaging in "Story Time with Star" underscored the lasting impact of the organization’s early intervention programs.
For many of the families in attendance, the event provided an opportunity to reconnect with the clinical staff, including Executive Director Maura Berndsen and Birth to Three Specialist Kim Hamren. The informal atmosphere of the Discovery Room at the Kirkland campus allowed for the exchange of experiences, reinforcing the support network that exists for families navigating the challenges of hearing loss.
Strategic Objectives and Future Outlook
Looking toward its 30th year, Listen and Talk is positioning itself to address the ongoing demand for high-quality, evidence-based auditory-verbal education. The financial infusion from the Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser arrives at a critical juncture, as the organization looks to expand its outreach capabilities and integrate new technologies into its therapy and classroom environments.
The implications of the organization’s work are significant. By prioritizing listening and spoken language, Listen and Talk aims to reduce the barriers that often limit academic and social opportunities for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Research in the field of audiology indicates that early identification and intervention significantly correlate with higher literacy rates, improved social-emotional development, and greater success in post-secondary education.
The organization remains committed to its foundational belief that no child should be limited by hearing loss. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, the demand for programs that provide specialized audiology testing, parent education, and individualized therapy is expected to rise. Listen and Talk’s ability to mobilize its community for its inaugural fundraiser suggests a strong foundation for long-term sustainability and continued growth.
A Summary of Core Services
To understand the scope of the organization’s current operations, it is necessary to examine the four primary pillars of its service model:
- Birth to Three Program: Focused on early identification and intervention, this program is designed to capitalize on the neuroplasticity of the infant brain, ensuring that auditory stimulation begins as early as possible.
- Therapy Services: Individualized sessions that target specific speech and language milestones, coached by certified auditory-verbal therapists.
- Audiology: Comprehensive diagnostic testing and management of hearing technology, which acts as the physical interface for the child’s learning process.
- Blended Classroom Program: A specialized educational environment that prepares children for transition into traditional school settings, emphasizing self-advocacy and classroom social dynamics.
Conclusion
The 29th-anniversary celebration was more than a commemorative event; it was a testament to the durability of the organization’s mission. From its modest beginnings in a basement to its current status as a leader in LSL education, Listen and Talk has remained consistent in its objective to empower children. The success of the inaugural Walk, Run, and Roll fundraiser indicates that the organization’s supporters are invested in the long-term vision of an inclusive society where children with hearing loss can access the world through the power of sound and speech. As the organization looks toward the future, it continues to rely on the collective efforts of donors, staff, and families to ensure that its specialized services remain accessible to all who need them.
