Written By Kirsten Ballard
Doreen Pollack was a trailblazer and fierce advocate for Listening and Spoken Language. Ahead of her time, she believed that learning to listen was the pathway to speech for children…
Posts by: Kirsten Ballard
Empowering Maryland Families from Day One
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Margaret Hargrove worked to create Beginnings Maryland in an effort to guide families with children diagnosed with hearing loss from the start.
Normalizing Listening and Spoken Language in Brazil
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Andre de Botton wanted his daughter Marina to speak and hear, but Brazil’s official policy was sign language. They changed that.
From Cradle to Career (World Hearing Day 2023)
Written By Kirsten Ballard
How Brooke Barnes’ experience with her own child’s newborn hearing screen led her to become a screener herself.
A Girl Scout and her Quest to Educate about TMPRSS3
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Today, there is an entire website dedicated solely to TMPRSS3 with helpful resources, information and, yes, those same early studies Susan discovered while trying to learn about her daughter’s condition.
Crazy Guy on a Bike – Who’s Also Blind and Deaf
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Dick Hagan, who has Usher Syndrome, decided to bike across the country.
Kaitlin’s Magic Ears
Written By Kirsten Ballard
For a third grade school assignment, Kaitlin McKoy decided to write about her ears.
Swimming Towards Success
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Carli is deaf. For her to compete to the best of her ability, she relies on the race official to use a hand signal to take her mark, at which…
Finding Herself at AG Bell’s LOFT
Written By Kirsten Ballard
At LOFT, Catherine Shrubshall realized she did not have to hide or justify her actions. “These people just understand intrinsically on a different level and I don’t have to constantly…
A Sisterly Bond – and the Bachelor
Written By Kirsten Ballard
The two sisters share a bond and experience like no other. “It’s been really nice to have somebody that knows exactly what you’re going through,” Abigail says. “There are small…
Running for a Reason
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Lea en Español On his 39th birthday, Scott Hollander decided to run a marathon. Less than 0.01 percent of the world population has completed a marathon. He found inspiration from…
Paying it Forward
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Lea en Español Caitlin Parton wants to pay it forward. She went to law school to become a disability rights lawyer. She’s no stranger to advocating, fighting and even suing for her…
Opportunity Awaits
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Keith Vick has had a nonlinear career path: from mechanical engineer to part-time student to patent lawyer and philanthropist. Much of it was shaped by his hearing loss that he turned into opportunities.
Helping Families
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Tara Hubbard’s twin sister did the talking when they were little. Their parents assumed Tara was just a quiet child. “We didn’t find out I am hard of hearing until I was about 4 years old – and I got hearing aids immediately,” she says. Now, Tara is a trial attorney by training and represents a tribe in Phoenix, Arizona in child welfare state court proceedings. She has been at this position for almost five years.
The Mystery-Solver
Written By Kirsten Ballard
“I love the critical problem-solving and strategic thinking required to practice law,” she says. “I also enjoy the exciting variability of the workflow, as no two days seem to be the same. Additionally, my goal is to help individuals solve some of the most difficult situations in their lives.”
Learning by Listening
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Success in the law profession (as well as life) does not come from hearing, but rather from listening. These were the wise words a mentor imparted to Kevin Quigley that have stuck with him.
From Self-Advocacy to Professional Arguing
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Anat Maytal says she’s not surprised that she picked a profession where she is allowed to argue for a living. She’s been arguing and advocating for herself her entire life.
Making Goals
Written By Kirsten Ballard
Luke Chrzan has been playing hockey since he was 6 years old. Now 16, the New Jersey Titans goalie has dreams of playing in college and one day, the Deaf Olympics.