Canadian students "dress loud" to support children with hearing loss

TORONTO, May 2, 2014 /CNW/ - High school and elementary students across Canada are being encouraged to "dress loud" on Friday, May 2 to raise awareness for hearing loss during Speech and Hearing Awareness Month.

Advocacy group VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children is encouraging students to get out their loudest, wildest, wackiest clothing on Dress Loud Day and to donate a toonie (or more) to VOICE and the cause of hearing loss awareness. Businesses are encouraged to Dress Loud at their offices too and learn how they can support persons with hearing loss in their workplace.

"Dress Loud Day is a fun way for us to get students, teachers, parents and the general public involved in raising awareness that the children who are deaf can, with the aid of assistive devices, learn to hear, listen and speak," says Norah-Lynn McIntyre, Executive Director of VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children. "It is important for children with hearing loss to have the understanding and support of teachers and peers to foster a healthy environment leading to academic success and social inclusion."

All participating schools will receive a donation box and can choose to stage Dress Loud Day either on May 2 or any other day in May that is suitable for their school. Each school will receive posters and educational materials from VOICE to spread the word on the campaign. Individuals and businesses that wish to donate to the cause or learn more about the campaign can do so by visiting the VOICE website at www.voicefordeafkids.com. All funds raised will go directly to VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children to assist with the charity's work to support children and families affected by hearing loss.

Approximately three out of every 1,000 babies born have some degree of hearing loss and others have progressive hearing loss.  VOICE helps make it possible for these children to be successfully integrated into mainstream education programs and into a hearing society.

Throughout Speech and Hearing Awareness Month, students and teachers will learn techniques on how to best support children who have hearing loss and will also have the opportunity to participate in interactive activities to help them understand what it's like to have impaired hearing.

About Voice for Hearing Impaired Children
VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children has been advocating on behalf of children with hearing disabilities in Canada for the past 50 years. Established in the early '60s by a group of Toronto parents, VOICE offers support to families with children who are deaf and hard of hearing. The organization runs programs and services for children with hearing loss and their families in the four main areas of parent support, public education, advocacy and auditory-verbal therapy.

As a registered Canadian charity, VOICE has thrived over the years and has developed into one of the largest parent support organizations for families of children with hearing loss in Canada.

SOURCE: VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children

Media Contact:
Jill MacCannell
Porter Novelli
416-422-7152
[email protected]

Norah-Lynn McIntyre
Executive Director
VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children
416-487-7719
[email protected]