My wife Stacy and I live in Omaha, NE with our three young sons. Our youngest son Austin is 5 ½ years old and is deaf. He has bilateral cochlear implants which give him the ability to hear. However, as a result of another, unrelated medical condition, Austin has very limited speech. Therefore, Austin’s primary mode of communication is sign language. Additionally he uses his iPad to communicate with those who don’t sign.
We have been a part of the Nebraska Hands & Voices organization since its’ inception in the fall of 2007. When we first learned that Austin was deaf we went through a very difficult time and our ability to work through the difficulties was accomplished only as a result of being with other parents who had ‘been there, done that’. Without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today and being a part of Hands & Voices gives us the opportunity to help other parents who are going through what we did. It is our way of giving back and we love it.
Austin attended pre-school at the Boy’s Town Lied Learning and Technology Center for 2 ½ years. This fall (2011), he will attend Kindergarten at a local elementary school which offers a program for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.