Partners

Partners

The Decibels Foundation is honored to partner with the premiere institutions and organizations in Massachusetts and across New England that work with children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families.

The mission at Minute Man Arc is to support people with developmental disabilities throughout their lives. The Decibels Foundation supports the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Specialty Program at Minute Man Arc Early Intervention. Early Intervention (“EI”) is an integrated developmental service, offering both evaluation and therapeutic services to children birth to three years of age for whom there are developmental concerns due to biological, medical or environmental factors.

Deaf and hard of hearing specialty program

The Caroline Bass Fund

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program (DHHP) at Boston Children’s Hospital’s Center for Communication Enhancement provides comprehensive evaluation and consultative services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing. In partnership with the Caroline Bass Fund, The Decibels Foundation proudly funds specific family support programs offered through DHHP including: Family Education and Advocacy Team (F.E.A.T.); Success Kits for Families with Hearing Aids and/or Cochlear Implants; Improving Aural Rehabilitation Access for Patients with Single-Sided Deafness; and a college research internship focused on improving infant hearing tests.

Some of the other supports and services provided by the DHHP at BCH include:

The Thayer Lindsley Family-Centered Program offers services to young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families. Communication-focused services are provided at this crucial stage in speech and language development. This involves working directly with the children as well as assisting their families as they prepare for the unique challenges of raising a child who is deaf or hard of hearing.

Thayer Lindsley Program

The Usher Syndrome Coalition’s mission is to raise awareness and accelerate research for the most common cause of combined deafness and blindness. The Coalition also provides information and support to individuals and families affected by Usher syndrome.

The Coalition counts a number of leading institutions and researchers among its members. Member institutions bring their expertise and commitment to the work of the Coalition, collaborating with partners and researchers from some of the finest international organizations in the world. The Decibels Foundation is proud to be a founding member of the Usher Syndrome Coalition.

https://www.usher-syndrome.org/

Supports families through screening, identification of hearing loss, and Early Intervention services. All babies are screened at birth for hearing loss. Some babies will have hearing differences, while others may not. The Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program helps families of babies with reduced hearing get the services they need. They can help you find a place to have your baby’s hearing tested, locate Early Intervention Specialty Service Providers, and their Hearing Aid Program for Infants and Children pays for hearing aids for children from birth through age 21. Families must meet income requirements to qualify for the program. Contact Newborn Hearing for more information.

Newborn hearing screening program

The mission of MCDHH is to ensure full and equitable communication access and provide education and advocacy so that Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are able to fully engage in programs, services, and opportunities throughout Massachusetts. This includes advocating for public policy that addresses the needs of citizens who are D/HH, access to supports in local communities, quality public education for all children, and workforce development.

The MCD/HH provides free advocates for children with hearing loss. These advocates will come to your home to discuss your child’s needs and will assist you in working with your local school district to ensure your child has the necessary accommodations for success.

Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing | Mass.gov