Give back to Listen and Talk by participating in our Alumni Family Giving Campaign. As a former student or family member of Listen and Talk, you know firsthand the incredible impact our organization has on children with hearing loss. Your support can help us continue to provide life-changing services and support to these children and their families.
Amalia Faraji
Our story : A Foundation for a Bright Future
Amalia was born with sensorineural hearing loss and received her cochlear implants at 10 months old. From the beginning, we wanted to pursue a listening and spoken language approach, and Listen and Talk provided the expertise, support, and encouragement we needed to make that possible. Their dedicated team helped Amalia develop strong listening, speech, and language skills during her most critical early years.
Without Listen and Talk, Amalia would not be thriving in a general education classroom today. The foundation she gained through their program gave her the confidence and communication skills to succeed academically and socially alongside her hearing peers. Beyond the classroom, she is an active and enthusiastic participant in sports, including swimming, track and field, and basketball. We are incredibly grateful for the role Listen and Talk played in helping Amalia reach her full potential and pursue her dreams without limits.
Marna Klein
Our daughter, Marna, now 8 years old, is deaf, uses bilateral cochlear implants, and lives life at full volume! Marna is a passionate reader who is rarely seen without a book in her hands. She loves exploring the outdoors, hiking and camping with her family and scouting friends, cheering on the Mariners, and staying busy with lacrosse, softball, soccer, and swim team. Marna’s hearing journey began early; she received her first pair of hearing aids when she was just two months old, followed by a cochlear implant at twelve months old, and her second cochlear implant when she was two years old. From the very beginning, our family embraced Listening and Spoken Language (LSL), starting our journey with Listen and Talk in the Birth-to-3 Program. Through invaluable home visits, we learned the exact strategies needed to support Marna in her LSL journey. Marna then transitioned into the Listen and Talk preschool program, attending from age 3 to 5. It was incredibly beneficial for Marna to be in a preschool environment with specially-trained teachers and to develop close friendships with peers who also have hearing loss. Equally, it was deeply meaningful for us as parents to witness and share in that supportive community. Listen and Talk did so much more than just help Marna develop her listening and speaking skills; it set her up for lifelong success inside and outside the classroom. Through their programs, Marna built a strong foundation of confidence and self-esteem. She learned how to confidently advocate for herself, grew proud of who she is as a cochlear implant user, and became part of a large, wonderful community of families. Today, Marna is truly thriving inside and outside the classroom thanks to that early foundation. We invite you to support the Alumni Family Giving Campaign so that Listen and Talk can continue providing these life-changing services, empowering more children to find their voices, build high self-esteem, and achieve bright futures.
Kai Wendorf
Kai was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss when he was just four months old. At six months, he began working with the Listen and Talk program all the way through PreK, which played an important role in helping him develop the communication skills he relies on today. When Kai was 12, our family learned the underlying cause of his hearing loss is a GATA3 gene disorder called Barakat Syndrome or HDR, a rare genetic condition characterized by a classic triad: Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural Deafness, and Renal disease. Kai has always met challenges head-on. He has been fearless by nature, always willing to try something new, jumping into opportunities that would make many people hesitate. He participated in almost every sport growing up but it was his love of the performing arts that led him to study improv and perform in several stage productions, including two starring roles as the lead actor. Along the way, he also taught himself to play both drums and guitar. Kai graduated from Renton High School in June 2024 and moved to California. Today, Kai is living in Los Angeles and pursuing his goal of building a career in the arts. Kai says, “Listen and Talk showed me that in a world where it feels like there aren’t many people like me, I am not alone. Even if it feels like no one else is going through what I go through, I take comfort knowing that there are others successfully pursuing their dreams too. I know they are always rooting for me!! Kai’s parents’ say: “Watching him grow into someone who continues to take risks, follow his interests, and create his own opportunities has been one of the great privileges of being his parent. We are forever grateful for Listen and Talk and the role they played in developing his grounded sense of self, and the skills with which he advocates and communicates in a hearing world.”