Ohio Valley Voices
news & updates
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Jackie Sweeney on Silence to Speech |
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As Silence to Speech kicks off, OVV board member and supporter Jackie Sweeney offers a word about
the importance of the fundraising campaign...
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"I am so honored to be a part of Ohio Valley Voices and the Silence to Speech campaign. As a supporter, I am passionate about the children at OVV. As we begin the public portion of the campaign, the urgency of raising funds for the expansion of our current site couldn’t be clearer. Our Toddler Program is at capacity and the children are on a waitlist.
"I am here to raise awareness and ask for your support. The Silence to Speech campaign will allow the children who are deaf or hard of hearing in the Greater Cincinnati area to develop their voice and become the best version of themselves. What could be more important, and more meaningful, than that?" - Jackie Sweeney
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Click the button below to learn more
and donate to Silence to Speech!
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Have an impact now! Sign up to be an OVV monthly donor! |
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Student Spotlight - Joyce Tilling |
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Joyce Tilling grew by leaps and bounds during her time at Ohio Valley Voices—a journey that culminated with her graduation from the program in May. Although her teachers will certainly miss having her in class, they look forward to seeing all that she accomplishes at Loveland Primary School in the fall. When asked what she’s most looking forward to at her new school, Joyce says she can’t wait to be in a big classroom because of all the new friends she’ll make.
Joyce’s family describes her as kind and patient—while knowing how to be silly, too. She loves to be a helper and to care for other people. “Joyce is one of the bravest and most determined kids I have ever met, with the most loving heart,” her mother, Emily Tilling, says. “When she started at Ohio Valley Voices, confidence was not one of her top traits. However, since being at OVV, her confidence has skyrocketed. I am so thrilled to see her believe in herself as much as we believe in her.”
In 2015, when Joyce was born, she failed her newborn hearing screening. She was not officially diagnosed with conductive hearing loss until she was almost three. Despite being heartbroken by the news, Joyce’s parents, Emily and Joshua Tilling, initially felt relieved; the doctors had recommended hearing aids, which gave them hope that Joyce would make progress in her speech and language skills.
Before Emily and Joshua learned about Ohio Valley Voices, they weren’t sure how to best approach speech therapy and schooling for Joyce. It wasn’t until they moved to Loveland that they discovered OVV by chance. While shopping at a store, Emily was approached by someone who noticed Joyce’s hearing aids. It turned out that the person was an OVV parent. The rest is history... (read more)
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OVV Summer School '22
was a flying success!
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OVV Summer School is a chance for our kiddos to
partake in relaxed, playful summertime activities while continuing to hone their listening and speaking skills.
Between gardening, bear hunting, kite-flying, and
snow cone eating, this year's summer schoolers had plenty
of fun to keep them excited and engaged.
Summer School ended July 1st. Stay tuned for updates
about our next program... Alumni Summer Camp!
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Give our kids fun and useful tools through OVV's Amazon Wishlist! |
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Staff Spotlight - Katy Baron |
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Katy Baron grew up in River Forest, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. As an undergraduate, she studied sociology at The College of Wooster, where she also played field hockey—a sport she has been involved with, either as a player or coach, for over twenty years.
“Playing field hockey taught me perseverance,” Katy says. “And coaching taught me patience, creativity, team-building, and how to stay enthusiastic and motivate others.” Unsurprisingly, these skills have proven to be invaluable off the field in Katy’s vocation as a speech-language pathologist.
Upon finishing college, Katy worked as a Camp Coordinator at Camp Jewell in Colebrook, Connecticut, then served on the National Civilian Community Corps for AmeriCorps. One commonality tied these disparate professional experiences together. “I was always involved with teaching children,” Katy notes.
In 2013, Katy began teaching in a more formal capacity when she volunteered for Child’s Voice, an oral education school near Chicago that is, along with OVV, one of only eight Moog-trained programs in the United States. There, she quickly fell in love with the kids in the program and became fascinated with deaf education, particularly the work of Listening and Spoken Language Providers.
“When I learned that kids who are deaf can learn to listen and speak with cochlear implants, I was immediately curious and wanted to know more,” Katy recalls. “I knew right away this was the population I was most interested in working with..." (read more)
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Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest OVV updates! |
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Happy Fourth of July
from all of us at OVV!
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In celebration of July 4th, a group of OVV kids,
parents, and staff members walked in Loveland's Independence Day Parade. They waved, passed out candy, and even took pictures with Batman!
Despite the heat, the kids had a blast
spreading the word about Ohio Valley Voices.
Thanks to everyone who came out!
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Special Thanks to These Partners: |
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Dr. Nancy A. Creaghead
Mr. Jody Johnson
Mr. Jonathan Westerman
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Dr. Daniel Choo
Nora Moushey
Barbara Fitch
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