Louisiana Hands & Voices

La Hands & Voices mission is to support families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing without a bias. We advocate for families, share information, and create space and time for people to come together and help one another. We know that families use many different ways to communicate with their children who are deaf or hard of hearing. It doesn't matter which mode of communication is used, we believe that what works for your child is what makes the choice right.

We're a parent-driven, non-profit organization providing families with the resources, networks, and information they need to improve communication access, social and educational outcomes for their children with hearing loss. Parents of babies who are deaf/hard of hearing often have no experience with hearing loss or how it may affect a child's relationships, social and academic development as they grow. Whether parents have a child recently identified as deaf or hard of hearing or they are a 'seasoned' parent, we are here to support. Our outreach activities, trainings, parent-professional collaboration, and advocacy efforts are focused on enabling children who are deaf or hard of hearing to reach their highest potential.

We provide families with support to empower parents with knowledge to make informed decisions and resources to guide them. Caregivers are then able to advocate for their child who is deaf or hard of hearing. We believe that when parents are knowledgeable, they feel comfortable making decisions and advocating for their child which increases engagement in the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process. This service is provided at no charge to families.

Testimonials

"We were so relieved to speak with another parent who had 'been there.' Our parent guide helped us realize we were not alone on our child's journey with hearing loss."

"The best thing we did for our family after diagnosis was to get involved with the GBYS program. It made a huge difference in our knowledge & outlook regarding our daughter's future."

"Our Parent Guide was outstanding in every aspect. She made us aware of programs and gave us support to pursue them. She was the boost we needed to find resources for our daughter. Thank you for offering the GBYS Program!"

"I never felt like I was alone during a difficult time."