Why We Walk – Meet Jaxson's Crew

Born with moderate-severe hearing loss and diagnosed at birth, Jaxson was fitted with bilateral Phonak hearing aids at just 3 months old. Like so many families, his parents faced uncertainty in those early days and wondered what the future might look like for Jaxson.

Everything began to change when Jaxson joined Clarke’s preschool program in 2024 at the age of three.

Before Clarke, Jaxson’s spoken language was very limited. Through Clarke’s Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) approach, he found his voice, learning to advocate for himself and connecting with the world in ways his family once thought impossible.

Jaxson’s mom, Sami, shares something she once only hoped for: conversations with her son. Not just a few words, but full, joyful, everyday conversations about his day. In fact, she says he “literally doesn’t stop talking.”

That’s the power of Clarke.

Sami says it best: the “gift of communication is priceless."

Jaxson’s Crew isn’t just showing up. They’re leading the way as one of the top teams on the leaderboard. With support from family and friends across the US and Aruba, they’re walking to give back to the place that gave them so much.

Because every child deserves the chance to listen, speak, and be heard.

Now, we invite you to walk with us.

• Start A Team
• Join A Team
• Make A Donation

Every step, and every dollar, helps children like Jaxson find their voice.

Join today and tag us in your fundraising, along with #ClarkeListeningWalk.

Clarke's Listening Walk at the Zoo

May 16 | Elmwood Park Zoo | 8 am

Questions? Contact Denise Kozuch at dkozuch@clarkeschools.org

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. As an IRS-qualified charity, gifts to Clarke are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Clarke teaches children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen and talk. Since our founding in 1867, we have prepared children to succeed in mainstream schools and the wider world, evolving to meet the needs of children and families today. Our teachers of the deaf, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists partner with families to help their infants, toddlers, and school-age children develop listening and spoken language (LSL) skills to maximize their learning. We support nearly 1,000 children and their families annually, through a wide range of programs at our multiple locations, in mainstream classrooms, and through our virtual services. Learn more at clarkeschools.org. 

Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech | dkozuch@clarkeschools.org | clarkeschools.org

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