Washington, DC, November 29, 2005 - The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is pleased to announce the launch of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language® (the Academy). A result of the combined work of Auditory-Verbal International, Inc. (AVI) and AG Bell, the Academy will develop and manage certification programs for professionals who provide services to children and adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Academy's initial focus will be on the continued growth and recognition of the Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapist® designation.
At its initial board meeting November 3-4, 2005, the Academy elected the following officers:
President - Teresa Caraway, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Cert. AVT®
President Elect - Carol Flexer, Ph.D., CCC-A, Cert. AVT®
Secretary - Don Goldberg, Ph.D., Cert. AVT®
Treasurer - Lyn Robertson, Ph.D.
"Early diagnosis, hearing technology and early intervention have dramatically expanded opportunities for children with hearing loss to develop exceptional listening and spoken conversational skills. As a result, families and professionals are seeking specific knowledge and skills to improve services for children with hearing loss," said Teresa Caraway, Ph.D., President of the Academy. "We already are seeing a growing demand for Certified Auditory-Verbal Therapists®. Over the next few years, the Academy will extend certification opportunities to other disciplines to improve educational opportunities for children with hearing loss."
At the meeting, the Academy board of directors also adopted Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws and established several key committees, including the Auditory-Verbal Certification Committee. The Academy board will meet again in early January 2006.
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a lifelong resource, support network, and advocate for listening, learning, talking, and living independently with hearing loss. Through publications, outreach, training, scholarships, and financial aid, AG Bell promotes the use of spoken language and hearing technology. Headquartered in Washington, DC with chapters located in the United States and Canada and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell's global presence provides its members and the public with the support they need - close to home. With over a century of service, AG Bell supports its mission: Advocating Independence through Listening and Talking! For more information, contact AG Bell at (202) 337- 5220 or visit the AG Bell website at www.agbell.org.
