Colorado Families for Hands & Voices

My daughter grew up with CO Hands & Voices. I didn't really start growing as a parent of a deaf child until I met other parents. Because of the Chapter, we had access to the best thinkers in the world of deaf education to help her overcome her late-identification. We learned about Theory of Mind, pragmatic language, met Deaf adult mentors, knew about services, had Shared Reading instruction, and met lots of families with kids her age because of people I met, articles I read in the Communicator, and events I attended.
As she grew, we utilized the educational advocacy knowledge (ASTra) for a more meaningful educational program, and kept learning through middle and high school and the transition to college. I still have staff and Board members, past and present, on speed dial. We are all so grateful for your many years of support.

Colorado Families for Hands and Voices has been invaluable with their support as our son started his educational journey. The district intake and initial IEP was not pretty, to say the least. Colorado Families for Hands and Voices attended the meeting to advocate for our son and family. It made a very difficult situation, easier as they provided us with added support about parent and student rights, important data collection assessments, and other resources to support our parent choice placement.

Recently, our son was struggling in class with behaviors. It was very rare form for him. We reached out to CO Families for Hands and Voices to get additional support and they made us aware of an assessment that could be administered to collect more data to help get to the root of the issue, so it could be addressed accordingly. That helped us feel at ease.

We are grateful to have this organization in our state. They have supported us in countless ways already and we know they will continue to be there for our family as our son’s educational journey continues.

I just want to give a shout out to Hands and Voices and the people who run the Colorado chapter. I have been a teacher of the Deaf in Colorado for over 20 years. I have seen firsthand how the Colorado chapter of Hands and Voices has supported not only Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families, but also the educators working with those families. Thank you for all you have done for and continue to do for Deaf and hard of hearing children and their families.

I started with this group as a busy Mom feeling overwhelmed with finding support and one general place with accurate information to help navigate choices for my son. This group provided all sides of each choice, where to find support for choices made, and gave me a community outreach that understood our families needs and ESPECIALLY my child’s. Now our family circles back connecting once again with this amazing heart led group for our Grandson, as we journey once again through choices and connections of childhood, knowing no matter what choices made there will be understanding backed with heart, accurate information, and support. THANK YOU ALL!!!

Co H&V is one of the best family support organizations around. They have excellent leadership and are great community partners to support deaf children and their families!

My son is “Deaf Plus” and he is culturally deaf as well. Hands and Voices has sent representatives to our IEP meetings and last year they arranged so many wonderful events throughout the year like the Deaf and Autism Day, Signing Santa and also the Polar Express Train with interpreters. I appreciate their moms events and the events for kids as well as the ongoing support that boasts a very diverse crowd of choices for those that are Deaf and Hard of Hearing from wearing implants and speaking to culturally deaf and signing, Hands and Voices really supports every child and family in their communication decisions. They are truly an amazing non profit.

Their follow through is Impeccable. They showed up in person, via email and by phone every time we asked them for support. They helped us prepare for our IEP and supported us every step of the way and continue to do so anytime questions arise. We truly enjoy the events offered too!! Great organization!!

I received assistance from H&V for my sons IEP meeting. They helped make sure he was placed properly. I also attended a class they gave on the IEP process and understanding ADA and how it impacts DHH children specifically. I have also attended events that they throw for the kids.

Amazing support from this group!! So very helpful and wonderful people!!

Sara Kennedy, in her role at Hands and Voices has opened my eyes to the world of a child who has hearing loss. My son was diagnosed when he was an 8 and is now 14. We met Sara during his Middle School IEP eligibility process. Sara had a great depth of understanding about children’s educational needs and the ramifications of IDEA. Our family was supported throughout the whole process, and I felt educated and equipped to advocate for my son. Sara’s advocacy ensured that my son’s right to access an equitable education was guaranteed through the accommodations provided for in his IEP. We are deeply grateful for her support and also the work that she and her colleagues undertake to provide educational and social events for families of children who are deaf or have hearing loss. Hands and Voices are a simply marvelous not for profit organization!

It's a great organization and a wonderful community that supports, guides and advocates for the deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families. It's an invaluable resource.

I found out at birth my son was HOH and immediately was contacted by H&V and had people check on us so often and answering questions. H&V has been my life line through the journey with my sweet boy

I am an audiologist with a passion for working with children with hearing loss and their families. Hands and Voices has always worked with audiology students and professionals in a positive and respectful manner. I love that they have different aspects of support for children and families, including Guide By Your Side. This particular aspect of H&V can work wonders for struggling families and those whose children have just been diagnosed. H&V is supportive of everyone and focuses on the needs of the family and child(ren). It’s one of the best resources out there!

Colorado hands and voices has provided so much support to my family. They have educational and fun moms night inn and opportunities to meet other families with DHH kids. They have been a true blessing to our family!

Hands & Voices has helped my family for 6 years now.

Colorado Hands and Voices has been so helpful to our family. Sara Kennedy and Brenda Elliott are always available to answer any questions and give advice as we navigate the deaf/hard of hearing world for our 3 year old son. I'm very thankful for them!!

As a teacher of the Deaf/hard of hearing in the Colorado Springs area, I love to introduce new parents in our area to Hands and Voices. I know this connection will inform them of all they need to know to make the right choices for their Deaf/hard of hearing child, allow them to network with other parents, and learn about what programs are available for their child. Sara Kennedy can be counted on to provide unbiased, professional and caring advice!

Individuals attempting to receive services from a government agency can sometimes become overwhelmed. As a government/ retired counselor for the Deaf, I have had the privilege of getting to know Colorado Hands and Voices and am amazed at their ability to change lives for the better. They have been present and supportive, as individuals transition from public school to employment. They are calm, organized, knowledgeable, and effective. This type of support is highly valued by the student, parents and government provider! They have the rare ability to communicate clearly and honestly, including the ability to share disappointment or unpopular information in a manner that elicits constructive responses. Colorado Hands and Voices have taken on the responsibility of understanding federal, state and local laws, policies, practices and regulations so that individuals do not have to take on this task themselves.
I have also had the privilege of working with Sara Kennedy on an exemplary team to improve the Deaf/Hard of Hearing student's ability to present his/her own transition IEP. Sara's ability to synthesize data and make logical recommendations has been exceptional.

When I first found out that my daughter had a hearing loss over 11 years ago, Hands and Voices was there to help, support and guide us through what was a very difficult and scary time. They found many resources for us, answered all my questions, and in such a show of support, just simply let me talk out my fears and concerns since I didn't know anything about raising a child with a hearing loss . As my daughter started her school career, Hand and Voices was there many, many times to help me understand her IEP, often times attending the IEP meetings themselves when her school and I couldn't reach any agreement on the services needed for her. I absolutely believe that without their help, my daughter would not have the services she has now, nor would she be as successful as she is. Hands and Voices has been so incredibly instrumental in helping our family, I absolutely don't know what we would have done without them. I can never thank them enough for all their support!

Hands and Voices has been an incredible support along this journey parenting my Deaf/Hard of Hearing son. They have been a source of encouragement and resources. When my son transitioned from a private school to an out-of-district charter, Hands and Voices helped by providing contact information to individuals who could help defend his rights and keep him in the school. They provided a wealth of information to help me fight the discrimination and understand how parent choice works in schools in the state of Colorado. Not only that, but they were helpful in coming with me to my sons initial evaluation for an IEP and have provided support with any questions I have about his 504.

The connections and ideas I've gained through Hands and Voices have been invaluable. Ideas and resources that I had no idea existed, or no idea how to access have materialized. Amazing brainstorming and idea sourcing has helped me think outside the box to provide services and access to my son's education that I hadn't conceived of previously. I know that we would be where we are today with out Hands and Voices. I am incredibly grateful for the amazing work this group does.

What would we do without the Colorado chapter of Hands & Voices?! This organization has been there for us as parents of a DHH child for over 10 years! Providing very valuable information on communication modes, strategies, technologies (all impartially) as well as connecting us with professionals and other families for support. Besides all of this, they have people who will respond to you when you feel you have no place else to turn!
Recently, we felt our daughter's needs were no longer being met by the mainstream center-based school in our home district, and asked for an IEP re-evaluation meeting to discuss placing her in another school. Our home district denied the meeting and stated we should place here there by choice. The new school we were interested in said the home district needed to have the IEP re-evaluation meeting, we were going in circles and needed to know what our rights were. Sara Kennedy responded to my request for help immediately with the exact information we needed, and soon (thanks to the information she directed me to) I had gotten our home district to set up the IEP meeting we needed. The suggestions Sara provided through Hands & Voices helped us to prepare for that meeting, especially when it came to helping our daughter advocate for herself and have valuable input on how her needs were NOT being met. The IEP meeting was intense, stressful, and difficult, but had it not been for the help from Hands & Voices we may have felt defeated. Instead, we knew what our options were and were not, and were prepared and empowered to make sure we were heard. Now, just a few months later, our daughter is thriving in a new school and doing better than we could have hoped.
I could not imagine navigating all the hurdles we have come across without the support of this amazing organization.
Thank you, Hands & Voices!

Hands and Voices has been a wonderful way to hear from other parents with children that struggle with many of the same things our son does. Sara Kennedy has been particularly amazing in her knowledge, kindness and availability to help us with all kinds of issues surrounding raising a child with a hearing loss and other disabilities. She and her coworkers helped us with IEP paperwork, calmed me down in times of frustration with the school system, provided information on fun get togethers where I have met other parents to connect with and where our son has met new friends. I look forward to getting the online newsletter (which I quickly scan) and the newspaper which I try to read cover to cover as I get a few minutes here and there. There are several times I don't know who I would have turned to if not for Hands and Voices. I will forever be grateful for their organization.

Hands and Voices is a wealth of knowledge and has a wonderful support staff. They did not tell us what to do, but gave us the resources to decide what was best for our child. The parent advocates were professional and very helpful. IEP/504's are so important to the success of our children. They really helped us through the process. Thank you members for all of the work you do!

When I was having problems with the school following the IEP, Hands & Voices came to the IEP meeting to help me navigate this confusing area. Often, you attend these meetings with your spouse and there are a whole table full of professionals who tell you what can be done. When a representative from Hands & Voices came to the meeting, we felt that we had an expert on our side.

For over 12 years, I have felt completely and utterly alone while navigating my way through how to best serve my son who has unilateral hearing loss. That all changed when I got a phamplet from our audiologist about this fantastic organization. When I received a call from
Sara and a follow up email with all kinds of helpful information, I began to cry. My son is not alone. I am not alone. The things I ask for from his school are not absurd or far reaching. They are quite normal. The 'quirks' that my son has are related to his hearing impairment. I honestly saw a light at the end of a very dark tunnel that I had been in since moving to Colorado. So thank you to hands & voices and especially to Sara for giving me such a priceless gift.

As someone who works with children who have hearing loss I've watched this organization grow and become such an inclusive organization. I place the emphasis on "inclusive" because we have such a diverse population of children with different needs and CO H&V focuses on what each child needs without elevating any ideology and personal opinions. I am hard pressed to find any non-profit organization in the state of Colorado that matches CO H&V's inclusivity in this field. Parents will experience a sense of empowerment, a sense of confidence, and a sense of understanding in how to advocate for their children's needs.