PROJECT KIDS H.E.A.R. launched in Toronto; an alliance of organizations
seeking provincial standards of care for all children who are hard of hearing
and deaf

    
    WHY? Back-to-school means back to no services in some Ontario schools and
    insufficient health supports for Deaf and hard of hearing children
    
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<p><location>TORONTO</location>, <chron>Sept. 18</chron> /CNW/ -</p>
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    -   All children deserve equal opportunity to reach their potential and
        be fully participating members of society
    -   In Ontario there is no standard for delivering educational support to
        children who are hard of hearing and deaf. Some of the 72 school
        boards offer virtually no service. The vast majority of children who
        are deaf or hard of hearing attend their community schools.
    -   Most children who are hard of hearing and deaf can learn to listen
        and speak, and have the right to access supports and services which
        will enable them to do so.
    -   The Government of Ontario must ensure that equal supports and
        opportunities exist to foster the potential of these children,
        including access to audiological and communication supports
        province-wide
    -   Families, supporters and professionals will be at Queen's Park on
        October 19th to implore the Ontario government to take immediate
        action to develop and deliver province-wide standards in health and
        education
    

For further information: Media Contacts: James Borer, Parent of two Deaf children, Leader of the Alliance, cell: [phone]; Norah-Lynn McIntyre, Executive Director, VOICE for Hearing Impaired Children, [phone]; Mary Cook, Executive Director, The Ontario Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists, [phone] x26