We’re celebrating our partner Hearing Our Way’s 10th anniversary.
By Melanie Paticoff Grossman
I never expected to create a magazine, and I certainly never predicted that magazine would still be going strong 10 years and 40 editions later! What I did expect was to help families of children with hearing loss—families like mine.
As a child, I became enamored by my younger cousin’s hearing loss journey and passionate about helping people with hearing loss. From my unique perspective, I developed a keen sense of the social-emotional impact of hearing loss and saw a need for more support.
I wanted to create an outlet for children with hearing loss, as well as their siblings, to share their stories by using creative writing as an important tool for self-expression. This was the foundation of Hearing Our Way magazine.
Ten years ago, I embarked on a mission to support children with hearing loss. These kids are often one of the few, if not the only, children with hearing loss in their mainstream schools. My goal was to connect them with other kids like themselves and introduce them to inspiring role models who also have hearing loss. I wanted to see if this could enhance their sense of self, willingness to use assistive devices, self-advocacy skills, and self-esteem.
A decade later, I can say with confidence that the answer is a resounding yes.
The Next Chapter
As Hearing Our Way neared its 10-year anniversary, I began to reflect on how far the magazine and its family of readers had come. Teachers who had been with us from the very beginning now cherished their collections of past editions kept in their classrooms. Kids who had been reading the magazine since elementary school were now graduating from high school. Parents of newly diagnosed infants with hearing loss were subscribing for the first time, but they would never see some of the wonderful features we had published in years past.
I started to think: What if we could collect the best content, stories, and resources from Hearing Our Way? This would create a guide for any deaf education classroom, a treasured book for every child with hearing loss’s home library, and an accessible reference for new parents. “The BIG Book of Hearing Our Way: 10 Years of Inspiring Stories of Kids and Teens With Hearing Loss,” a beautiful 100-page hardcover, will debut at the end of this year. Here are some of the stories we’ll feature.
Overcoming Obstacles
Azalea in 2021 (left) and now, as a 14 year old (above).
In the magazine, Overcoming Obstacles is our signature cover interview featuring an inspiring kid or teen. Azalea was a fan favorite cover story in 2021. Readers were inspired by her adoption story, Ethiopian roots, wisdom, and confidence. As a fifth grader she wrote about her annual class presentation about hearing loss at the start of each school year, and she encouraged kids to be proud to be different.
In the new book Azalea, now 14, shares, “My school is small, and I know all the students, so I no longer do a presentation for my classmates each year. Instead, I send an email to my teachers at the beginning of the school year. Speaking up for myself comes easier these days. I can ask teachers and peers to repeat something for me when needed, and I can request that subtitles be turned on.”
Things We Love
Lelaina (above, left) and Celia at ages 8 and 7 in 2017, and as teenagers now.
Things We Love features all of the current trends, celebrities, books, movies, and more that kids love. It’s also home to Sibling Spot, where we interview families and include perspectives from both kids with hearing loss and their siblings with typical hearing.
Back in 2017, sisters Celia and Lelaina from St. Louis shared their story. Lelaina was 8 and always by 7-year-old Celia’s side, helping her feel better after cochlear implant surgery, putting captions on TV for her, and accompanying her down to the nurse’s office with her FM system.
Celia is now 14 and loves singing and acting. In fact, she had the lead role at the Central Institute for the Deaf’s Summer Enrichment Program final production. Lelaina, 15, is still there for her every step of the way, like supporting Celia’s singing by helping her stay on pitch if she can’t hear the key. The sisters share, “We’ve grown more mature since the last article, and we’ve learned a lot of things, but in the end, we feel like we are the same people… and have only gotten even closer.”
Bright Futures
Jacob as a college student in 2019 (above) and five years later at his wedding.
One of the themes that comes up often from our young readers when they look to the future is the question of finding love. Jacob was featured on our 2019 cover when he was in college studying chemical engineering. Five years later, Jacob has landed his dream job, traveled the world, and married the love of his life.
Jacob shares, “My wife Sarah does not have hearing loss and didn’t even know what a cochlear implant was when we first met, but we fell in love, and she is very supportive. Before meeting Sarah, I had insecurities and doubts about what dating might be like, especially if I had hearing loss and they did not. But now I’ve learned that when you meet the right person, they will love and accept you exactly as you are. And if they don’t, they aren’t right for you after all.”
I’ve been so inspired by these young people for the past 10 years and hope you find them equally inspiring.
Melanie Paticoff Grossman is the creator and CEO of Sophie’s Tales LLC, an educational publishing company specializing in products for children with hearing loss and cochlear implants. HHF appreciates our partner Hearing Our Way for sharing these stories in the Summer 2024 issue of Hearing Health magazine. Learn more about “The BIG Book of Hearing Our Way” at hearingourway.com.
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