Wisconsin Families for Hands and Voices

HAMMERED JEWELRY CLASS and SUMMER PICNIC

WI Families for Hands & Voices is hosting a great event in MINERAL POINT on July 31 — a Hammered Jewelry class (offered in two classes as there is a 10 person limit in each class) with a Summer Picnic, swimming and playground to be enjoyed by kids and adults alike!

Please contact Laurie Nelson at 608-574-0747 with any questions. Thanks!

>> Hammered Jewelry Class and Summer Picnic flyer

_________________________________________________

2010 Family Conference

The 8th Annual Statewide Family Conference, intended for families of children who are deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and deaf with additional disabilities, will be held at The Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wisconsin from March 12-14, 2010. The main goal of the Conference is to provide a supportive atmosphere for parents and children through informative workshops, discussion groups, fun family activities, and vendor exhibits.

To apply for assistance to attend the conference fill out the scholarship application form and return it by February 19, 2010.

>> Scholarship Application.

We need your help! There will be a silent auction at the conference this year. We need donations for the silent auction and to help support the overall success of the conference.

>> Silent Auction Donation Form.

>> Silent Auction Donation Ideas.

>> Silent Auction Donation Request Letter.

_________________________________________________

Coffee Clutches

Hands & Voices and the Guide-By-Your-Side Parent Guides are joining together to organize regional, informal events called Coffee Clutches. We are happy to be able to offer families throughout the state opportunities to meet, learn from, and share experiences of raising well-adjusted successful kids. Each event will have its own flavor. Whether you prefer your coffee black or loaded with cream and sugar, or will choose lemonade instead, these events are for you! We will have representation from families of children of all ages and stages to talk about the thrills and challenges of raising our incredible children.

Northeast Region - NEW Zoo near Green Bay, WI - July 2, 2008 >> View Flyer

_________________________________________________

Distant Pals

Many children who are deaf or hard of hearing throughout Wisconsin sometimes feel isolated and question where they fit in. Distant Pals is a pen pal program sponsored by Wisconsin Families for Hands & Voices and the Wisconsin Educational Services Program for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WESPDHH) - Outreach. The goal of this program is to connect children who are deaf and hard of hearing throughout the state and provide them with peer relationships and healthy role models.

>> Download a printable flyer.

_________________________________________________

Parent Match

As you know, parents of children with hearing loss provide invaluable support to each other by sharing experiences, frustration, knowledge, and joys. There is a common bond between parents of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Yet, many times parents are not able to discover this bond as they don’t know where to turn to find other parents facing similar situations.

As a Wisconsin Families for Hands & Voices member you are invited to participate in our new Parent-to-Parent matching program. We will start by collecting information on the enclosed form. Depending upon your choice; we will then send you information from another family that matches your request, send your information to another family, or do both. This sharing of information will allow families to contact one another on their own. The information collected will only be released to other parents in the program.

If you are interested in being part of this exciting new project, click here to join.