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Dear Alexander Graham Bell Community,
On Tuesday, November 8, we witnessed the election of the next President of the United States. Some may be disappointed, some may be happy, but all of us need to look together to the future and plan for what lies ahead. Every four years, we cast our votes to determine the course that our highest executive office will take. No matter what happens, we always stay the course and keep moving forward with our lives.
Consistent progress forward and constant belief in our own mission keeps the path solid underfoot. AG Bell has experienced its share of storms and changed with the times to keep to our path, and it has never wavered from its mission in advancing listening and spoken language by preparing professionals and informing and supporting parents, children, and adults with hearing loss who desire to use spoken language as their primary mode of communication. I believe that the pace of the world requires patience, an open mind, and an enduring belief in progress through understanding. We must listen foremost as we move forward in this new era for our nation and our world, and always speak up for our beliefs. We each have our own personal perspective that deserves its time. This is one of the great freedoms that we enjoy as citizens of the United States - the freedom of expression.
Advancing Listening and Spoken Language has been the mission of AG Bell from the start, but the choice for listening and spoken language remains a personal right. We believe that each parent and adult with hearing loss has the right to choose a path based on the particular needs of their own family. AG Bell encourages all parents of children who live with hearing loss to research all the options available to them before they make their decision. This process is a critical one, as each child is different, but to succeed in listening and spoken language requires early action and strong commitment
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Dr. Donald McGee and Dr. Joseph Rosenstein
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As Thanksgiving Day approaches here in the United States, I want to take a moment to thank all those who have been so important to the field of Listening and Spoken Language in the past year..
Dr. Donald McGee and Dr. Joseph Rosenstein were recently recognized for their lifetime of supporting and advancing listening and spoken language. Throughout the year, we have honored or celebrated Representatives Lois Capps and Brett Guthrie, Gilbert M. Grosvenor, Susan Lenihan, Warren Estabrooks, Judith Simser, Kathleen Treni, Christina Yoshinaga-Itano, Regan Brady, Elena LaQuatra, Lance Allred, Neil Maes, Brick Reilly, Jonathan Hutcherson, and Amat Maytal, among others.
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Kathleen Treni with Neil Maes |
I am grateful to each of them for their work to make listening and spoken language possible for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing. This also marks a time that it would do well to mark and remember the legacies left behind by the individuals who departed our community this year. I would like to remember the monumental efforts and contributions of Dr. John Niparko, Allen Robert Janger, Noel D. Matkin, and Donna Grossman.
I would also like to thank the staff of AG Bell, our dedicated Board of Directors, and our Academy Board of Directors for all of their efforts in furthering the mission and vision of Dr. Alexander Graham Bell. May you all have a wonderful week, and join me in giving thanks for the people who make a difference in your life and the lives of others!
If you have any questions, concerns, or just something you'd like to say - please don't hesitate to contact me.
Until next week,
Emilio Alonso-Mendoza
Don't dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer
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Denis Waitley
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