News

Ohio AG Yost Issues Warning of Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids

(COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 2021) — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost is alerting consumers to beware of some misleading tactics by over-the-counter hearing aid companies that make false claims of performance and that they have the government’s approval.

“There are a lot of options for Ohioans that need hearing assistance, but quite honestly some of these products are not much better than putting your hand up behind your ear,” Yost said. “Be careful and do your research so you don’t add a money loss to a hearing loss."

Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center Partners with Neighborhood Family Practice to Provide COVID-19 Vaccines to Deaf & Hard of Hearing Individuals on April 9, 2021

NFP’s latest partnership for vaccine administration is with the Community Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (CCDHH) at Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (CHSC). The organizations worked together to produce a video (link below) about COVID-19 vaccines specifically for individuals with communication challenges. The video features Melanie Golembiewski, MD, MPH, NFP’s associate medical director answering vaccine questions (in English & Spanish) with the support of a sign language interpreter.

CHSC Receives Bequest

CHSC extends heartfelt thanks to Ms. Emma Marie "Emrie" Thoresen, a long-time donor who supported the many programs and services we offer. Emrie passed away in 2019, but her generosity was extended with a wonderful gift from her estate. Her gift means Emrie will be inducted into our Heritage Society.

CHSC Values Diversity & Inclusion

At Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center, diversity matters and we welcome the broad array of diversity in the Northeast Ohio community to which we belong.

Donation Drop-Off Event - HUGE Success for Deaf Clients in Need!

On Saturday, September 26, 2020, CHSC hosted a Drive & Drop event to Pack the Pantry for our deaf clients in need. We were overwhelmed with the generosity of response! Friends, neighbors, clients, staff, Board members, and many others took the time and resources to contribute food and personal care items to "Sue's Pantry" in our Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

DRIVE & DROP DONATIONS FOR DEAF CENTER

Our Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has recently seen a surge in clients who are homeless and/or in need of food assistance. In order to ease their daily burdens, we are asking you to help us PACK THE PANTRY.

  "Sue's Pantry" was established in honor of Susan Bungard, previous Director of the Community Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Susan saw that the needs of our deaf clients often extended beyond the programs and social services we provide. Many times, clients were in need of basic items - such as food and personal care.

If you would like to help us PACK THE PANTRY - please bring your donations to any of the CHSC locations on:

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26

10:00 am - 2:00 pm

FOR YOUR SAFETY - DRIVE AND DROP YOUR DONATIONS

Vehicles may pull up to the building and we will take the donations from your trunk - no touching!

Deaf Community Survey Response to Accessibility of COVID Information

In Ohio, 8 Community Centers for the Deaf (CCDs) serve the deaf population in Ohio by providing sign language interpreters, case management services, and job readiness and training.  Several months ago, at the onslaught of the Coronavirus, the CCDs developed a survey, asking our deaf community how they felt about available services and access to resources through this pandemic. 

“Toys to Talk” Born Out of Pandemic Needs

In late March 2020, the speech language pathologists at CHSC took a crash course in providing speech and language therapy via telepractice. We quickly became experts at Zoom, screen sharing and Boom cards. Our clinical care coordinators scrambled to fill our now online schedules with our current clients, if they had the technology to support it.

By late April, most of us were getting in the groove of telepractice with clients of all ages.  However, as I worked with my caseload of mostly 2-5 year olds and their families, I noticed my most successful sessions were those that involved structured play with language enriching toys.  Some of my families had these toys such as pretend food, Mr. Potato Head, or a ball tower.  But, many did not. Some homes had no age appropriate books and very few toys.  Some homes had toys but they were often electronic and over stimulating, such as large trucks with multiple lights and sirens. I longed for my in-person therapy toys and materials!

CHSC Receives CFO Grant

July 2020 - Community Fund Ohio has awarded Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center a nearly $30,000 grant that will cover technology purchases for every department at CHSC. These items—laptops, Zoom accounts, iPad, and more will ensure the ability to provide the best in remote services to those with disabilities and communication differences throughout our community.

CHSC Celebrates ADA Cleveland Call for Access

CHSC is proud to be a member of ADA Cleveland, a coalition of disability-related organizations that seeks to celebrate, lead, and engage around the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act, which turns 30 this year!