Jericho’s Melanie Paticoff, CEO of Sophie’s Tales, an educational publishing company supporting children with hearing loss and cochlear implants, just announced the launch of her new magazine, Hearing Our Way, to help change the way kids and teens with hearing loss view their disability.
Paticoff was inspired by her cousin Julie who wears bilateral cochlear implants. Years ago, she quickly realized there were no products or publications designed for children like Julie with hearing loss. This motivated her to create the award-winning Sophie’s Tales children’s book series featuring a character with a cochlear implant.
Paticoff launched Hearing Our Way earlier this year to teach children and teens with hearing loss to be proud and confident of their differences and to raise awareness about listening & spoken language and cochlear implants.
“Hearing Our Way provides an opportunity for children and teens to not only read about but connect with others who are experiencing similar challenges with hearing loss,” said Paticoff. “The magazine teaches kids and teens to celebrate their differences and provides vital social and emotional support to young people during their formative years.”
The premier issue, which hits homes June 2014, will feature inspiring stories from role models with hearing loss, advice, tips and lessons in self-advocacy. Additionally, teachers and parents will find Hearing Our Way to be a useful tool in helping their students or children improve listening, language and self-confidence skills.
Today, early identification, amplification, and intervention have all led to earlier mainstreaming for children with hearing loss to enter their public schools, says Paticoff. As a result, students may be one of few children with hearing loss in their home districts.
Hearing Our Way provides a critical point of connection for these children to unite with others across the nation and be part of a dynamic online community. Additionally, Paticoff says students of all ages and reading levels can benefit from using the magazine as a classroom reader guided by a teacher or parent. Articles and features serve as discussion starters, and content can be easily implemented into current curriculum, IEP (Individualized Education Program) goals, and Common Core standards.
Hearing Our Way premieres this summer at the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing’s Biannual Convention in Orlando, Florida. Families and professionals are invited to visit www.HearingOurWay.com for more information and to sign up to receive the first issue. Subscriptions are complimentary for families, schools, audiologists’ and physicians’ offices, and organizations. For information about sponsorship opportunities, please contact info@hearingourway.com.
