Congratulations to Jane Madell!

Dear Alexander Graham Bell Community,

This week, I'd like to take the time to recognize an outstanding figure in the field of listening and spoken language. Last Thursday, Jane Madell, PhD, LSLS Cert AVT, was awarded the Marion Downs Award for Pediatric Excellence by the American Academy of Audiology, in recognition of her outstanding commitment to ensuring that every child with hearing loss has the opportunity to learn to listen, speak and participate in society. Jane is a giant in pediatric audiology and has established standards of practice that we can all look to as a model for serving children with hearing loss .

If I were to pick one word to describe Jane, it would be "determined." Once she sets herself upon a goal, she will achieve it. Jane's determination is best seen in her absolute commitment to providing a solid foundation in listening and spoken language to every child she serves no matter their age or hearing loss. She understands, and incorporates in her work, that parents are vital to the success of children learning to listen and speak, and she honors them through her activity with their child.

What sets Jane apart is her unwavering and rigorous standards for success. Jane insists that not only should her patients be able to speak and hear, but also that they should be able to do so on a par with their hearing peers. These pioneering standards have allowed for a more effective progression of speech outcomes, and Jane firmly believes that nearly every child with hearing loss can learn to speak and join in mainstream education. It is a testament to her that so many of her patients have done just that (and if you benefited from working with Jane, we hope you'll share your story with us.) Working with Jane isn't easy; she is strong-willed and has high expectations. But the impact of her work - whether you are her patient, student or colleague - is immensely rewarding.

Jane has left a remarkable footprint in our field far beyond her direct impact on her patients. Drawing from her wealth of experience, Jane co-authored the text Pediatric Audiology: Diagnosis, Technology and Management to help other professionals better serve the community. She is a prolific writer who has contributed to Volta Voices and writes a robust blog, Hearing & Kids.

I'd like to take this opportunity to congratulate Jane and thank her for her years of work in service to people who are deaf and hard of hearing. She is truly an ideal model for our community. I am honored to work closely with Jane on the AG Bell Academy Board of Directors. Seeing her dedication to the craft of listening and spoken language in practice is a gift. Individuals of such passion and extraordinary initiative are exceptional. But I am most grateful for Jane's generosity in sharing her knowledge, her experiences and her commitment to excellence.

With Jane at the Volta Bureau

Jane travels around the world to spread the mission of listening and spoken language and its best practices. This year, she will present at our International Symposium in Buenos Aires held jointly with Instituto Oral Modelo, as well as the AG Bell Listening and Spoken Language Symposium here in Washington, D.C .

If you see Jane at any of these events, I encourage you to congratulate her on her award and to take the time to ask questions of her. You will never forget her passion for our field and for the impact that AG Bell and listening and spoken language has made on a great many families around the world.

I am always available to you at info@agbell.org and at 202-337-5220.

Until next week,

Emilio Alonso-Mendoza

P.S. The AG Bell AVEd Scholarship and Doreen Pollack Scholarship for AVT candidates will close this Friday, April 14. Get your applications in ASAP!

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world .

Harriet Tubman