Honoring our 2024 Life without Limits Award Recipients: Katharine Grimm Wile and Dalton McKittrick
In what is becoming a heartwarming tradition, Listen and Talk proudly presents the 2024 Mike and Sharon Hunter Life Without Limits Award winners. Named in honor of one of our esteemed founding board members, Mike Hunter and his wife Sharon, this award celebrates the remarkable achievements of individuals who live life without limits. This year, we’re delighted to honor our teen recipient, Dalton McKittrick and adult recipient, Katharine Grimm Wile.
For Dalton McKittrick, childhood was not just about development but destiny—shaped by an unwavering will to surmount obstacles. Diagnosed with Usher Syndrome Type 1, Dalton’s early years were marked by determination, advocacy, and an uncommon maturity. His pivotal moment, advocating for himself at IEP meetings, was a precursor to the fervent advocate he would become.
Having played an instrumental role in securing a gubernatorial Proclamation recognizing Usher Syndrome Awareness Day, Dalton’s efforts transcend his age. His empathy and strength have guided him to support not only his peers but also families and younger children facing similar challenges, embodying what it means to live “without limits.”
Katharine Grimm Wile’s story is a testament to the power of resilience. Her journey began with a battle against pneumococcal meningitis, followed by the discovery of her profound hearing loss. Determined to speak like her brothers, she underwent a transformational path aided by Listen and Talk’s support, learning to listen with her hearing aid and a cochlear implant, which she received at age five.
Her love for dance and commitment to education saw her through prestigious roles in ballet and eventually, she received her degree in Dance and Nutrition Science from the University of Washington. Further academic accolades at Bellevue College and a career as a licensed sonographer stand as testimony to her indomitable spirit. Katharine’s dedication to community service and her current foray into motherhood epitomize a life lived fully, beyond the limitations of hearing loss.
Through these captivating stories, we aim to share the incredible journeys of perseverance and positivity in the face of hearing loss. Our winners are sterling representatives of the Listen and Talk ethos, proving that hearing challenges do not limit the heights one can reach. Join us as we celebrate their victories and the emotional depth that comes from acknowledging and addressing these hearing-related obstacles.
