As I type this, I’m sitting in front of a window overlooking the bay in Portland, Maine. This is my first visit to this northeastern state. I know several people who are attending the Hands & Voices conference, and I’m about to meet many more who will become familiar faces in the next few years. That has been my experience with Hands & Voices over the years: the wonderful opportunity to meet diverse parents, professionals, D/deaf/hard of hearing folks from all walks of life, all corners of the world.
How did this journey unfold? Many years ago, when my three deaf and hard of hearing kids were much younger, I sat down to develop a website for Illinois that would put together resources for parents with deaf and hard of hearing children. My passion was to connect with other families and share the experience of raising our kids together. Along the way, I discovered Hands & Voices, an organization whose philosophy mirrored my own: “What works for your child is what makes the choice right.” I met Leeanne Seaver, (Executive Director) and Janet Des Georges (Executive Director, Colorado Hands & Voices) and I liked them immediately, despite the fact that they were beautiful and fashionably hip. I was sucked in became a board member and started up the Illinois chapter.
When I first joined Hands & Voices, we were still relatively unknown– and definitely grassroots, but we all had a vision of connecting and helping families. It’s amazing to see how much the organization has grown. Today, we have 26 approved chapters, 11 provisional chapters and 6 start-up chapters. Our international chapters include British Columbia and Kenya, with provisional and start-ups in the Philippines, Guam/Saipain, Australia, Italy and Nigeria.
At the end of the board meeting, I paused for a moment and reflected on the changes over the years. We started back then with just a handful of chapters, and now we’re connected to families all over the world. The family in Italy wants the same thing as the family in Arkansas: a well-adjusted, successful kid. And the journey is so much easier when we’re connected to one another, sharing resources and support.
Years ago, at the very first Hands & Voices conference, we all fit around a single table. At the opening night in Maine, we filled the entire dining room at Southern Maine Community College. One by one, as we went around the room, we introduced our new best friend sitting next to us. I had the honor of getting to know and introduce Ann Porter, a parent and CEO of Aussie Deaf Kids.
What I love most about Hands & Voices is that over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet such a diverse group of parents, professionals and deaf/hard of hearing adults from all over. I always marvel at the stories they share, the paths they’ve taken on the journey and the wisdom that they share which helps guide me as I raise my own kids. And every time I cross paths with someone, I’m reminded of a quote by Tim McGraw:
“We all take different paths in life, but no matter where we go, we take a little of each other everywhere.”
For more pictures featuring the Maine Leadership Conference, visit the Hands & Voices Facebook page. Follow us on Twitter: @HandsandVoices.