History of the Centre

On this page:

> Establishment of the Hear and Say Centre
> Success factors

Dimity Dornan, A.M.
Speech-Language Pathologist, Cert. AVT
Managing Director and Founder
Hear and Say Centre, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

This is one story of how a new Auditory-Verbal Therapy program was started. I am telling it in the hope that someone, somewhere...parent, professional or friend, is prompted to start another program in an area where Auditory-Verbal facilities do not exist.

Early in 1991, having worked in other models of service delivery for children who are deaf or hearing impaired, and becoming interested in parent-based oral programs, I heard Judy Simser speak at a convention at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. The Gulf War was raging, and as bombs were falling on Israel, I travelled home from the convention with another war going on in my head. How could I provide a similar Auditory-Verbal service for my clientele of outreach children who lived in Queensland but had to travel to The Shepherd Centre's auditory-oral program over a thousand kilometres away in Sydney, Australia, and for the other children who were deaf/hearing impaired whose families wanted me to see them in my private practice but who could not afford the fees? The evidence of the progress of Judy Simser's Auditory-Verbal children was very compelling, as were her words of confidence in her outcomes.

My husband, Peter, provided the answer and with his blessing, I sought and was later awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study Auditory-Verbal Therapy with Judy Simser and with Warren Estabrooks. My express purpose was to set up a charity Auditory-Verbal Centre. Following a wonderful six weeks in their clinics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, and North York General Hospital, Canada, I returned home to good news. There was an offer from The Shepherd Centre of a one year part-time seeding grant to see if I could get a clinic started. Also, a private group of eighteen ear, nose and throat surgeons plus a group of audiologists wanted to start a cochlear implant program in Brisbane, and I was asked to join with them to take care of pre-implant preparation and post-implant habilitation. It was about this time, the point of no return, when I chanced upon my future motivating words, those of pioneer aviator Amelia Earhardt: 'Courage is the price that life extracts for granting peace'. I took courage and set up a charity board consisting of about twenty representatives including hearing professionals, business, finance, education and medical personnel.

The Hear and Say Centre for children who are deaf/hearing impaired and their families was born on 6 July, 1992. The title was chosen specifically to emphasise that children who are hearing impaired can learn to listen and to speak. The butterfly, which is unable to hear, was eventually chosen as the symbol of the new Centre and six initial families were offered Auditory-Verbal services without charge. The rooms used were my own and my husband's private practice rooms with him paying the bill for the overheads those first few years. A family friend, who was a lawyer, generously set up the legalities and the Hear and Say Centre was on the way.

Establishment of the Hear and Say Centre
The following steps were taken to establish the Hear and Say Centre:

1. First Steps
   Establish need and clientele
   Assemble allies/friends
   Arrange for appropriate staff (Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists® if available)
   Set up legalities
   Find room(s)
   Suitable equipment (teaching resources, furniture, assessments)
   Client description (age, sensori-neural hearing loss etc.)• Charity Board
   Membership
   Policy and procedures
   Role of the Board
   Time and dates of meeting

1. Service delivery model decided upon and expanded according to child need
   Focus on each family and their community
   Individual Auditory-Verbal Therapy sessions - 1 per week
   Multi-disciplinary team
   Language Enriched Playgroup Program (optional - 2 hours per week)
   Parent education
   Outreach Program
   Outlying centres for cluster groups
   Cochlear Implant Program
   Full audiological facilities

1. Establish funding
   Full time professional fundraiser employed who can raise his/her own salary plus more
   Other organisations for children who are hearing impaired
   Trusts and grants
   Corporate sponsorships
   Community service groups
   Individual donations
   Fundraising
   Major events e.g. luncheons, fashion parades
   
   Note: Ask honestly for the funding, goods or services you need. Envisage a particular child's face and just do it. The children are worth it!

1. Handling opposition
   Parents have a right to their own choice
   Share information on Auditory-Verbal Therapy generously with other professionals
   Network with other Auditory-Verbal professionals
   Have confidence in outcomes
   Ensure a professional approach of the clinical team
   Continuing education for staff
   Focus on the children and families and disregard criticism
   Ignore professional bodies which are adverse to change, professional jealousy and scepticism.

1. Future planning
   Review situation constantly
   Adopt changes to policy and procedures
   Universal neonatal hearing screening
   New technology
   Adapt to fluctuations in financial climate
   Establish a firm funding base (bequests, mailing list, foundations)
   Consider contracting out of services
   

Success Factors
Factors contributing to successful development and exponential growth of the Hear and Say Centre Program:

1. Early intervention approach chosen. Important because success is dependent on early intervention

1. Auditory-Verbal program

1. Hear and Say Centre consistently meets parent and child needs by expanding individualized service delivery

1. An aim for professional integrity and excellence

1. A multidisciplinary team with the children's well-being at heart

1. Appropriate qualified staff including Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists®

1. Excellent honorary clinical team including Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeons, audiologists, educators, medical professionals and a psychologist

1. Audiological Services

1. Family feeling of the Centre and care on a personal basis for families

1. Team spirit at the Centre

1. Increasing numbers of children as more parents hear about us and choose the Hear and Say Centre program

1. Children who speak about their experiences of the program at public events

1. Overall success of our graduates

1. Proactive and involved chairman and Board

1. Intensive and thorough planning for the future

1. Experienced and innovative fund raisers and funding committee

1. Vigorous public relations on television, press, radio, and public appeals

1. Staunch donors and supporters

1. Special support from Australian Medical Association, hearing technology manufacturers, community groups, construction companies and allied services, corporations, grants, trust funds and private donors

1. Recent successful application to government for funding

1. Devoted parents, staff, and volunteers and a huge network of friends and professionals

1. Loyalty of past and present families

1. Quality consumer orientated promotion and information materials

1. Large number of talented community people supporting the Centre

1. Reputation as a Centre of excellence

In summary, my final advice to professionals or parents wishing to start an Auditory-Verbal Clinic is to keep the focus firmly on the children, be generous and open in the exchange of professional information on Auditory-Verbal Therapy, and in the words of Winston Churchill, 'Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never give in!'

Finally, always look ahead to meet the ever-changing needs of children who are hearing impaired and their families, and believe that there is no educational or clinical need that cannot be met. It may just take some lateral thinking and time.

back to top