June 27, 2025
Listen and Talk is proud to be a trusted leader in delivering listening and spoken language services to children with hearing loss and their families. For over 28 years, we’ve grown with our community. We’ve overcome obstacles at different points in time and emerged stronger each time, thanks to the unwavering support and partnership of this incredible community.
In that spirit of partnership, I am sharing with you a new challenge we face today.
Changes in funding have required us to make some necessary adjustments to safeguard our long-term sustainability. These changes will ensure continued delivery of the life-changing listening and spoken language services at the level of care and excellence we are committed to.
Here are some temporary changes you may notice:
- Reduced office hours that began June 18, 2025
- Graduated salary reductions for Listen and Talk staff that consider individual salary levels. We anticipate restoring these by the end of our next fiscal year.
- Utilization of external services to fill the open position of Finance and Operations Director
Simon Sinek once said, “Optimism is not the denial of the current state. Optimism is the belief that the future is bright.” At Listen and Talk, we share that belief. We have faced financial challenges before, and we’ll overcome them again. Our leadership team and Board of Trustees are taking every step needed to ensure we remain the cornerstone for listening and spoken language services in our community for years to come.
Your support has always been critical to our mission. Donations do help us provide essential resources, sustain important services, grow our endowment, and improve outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing children and their families. Thank you for standing with us through this period of adjustment. Thank you for being champions of our mission. Thank you for the integral role you play in the lives of children and families across the Listen and Talk community.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions, thoughts, or ideas. Together, we’ll achieve incredible things and celebrate a bright future for every child and family impacted by hearing loss.
With deepest gratitude and optimism,
Maura Berndsen,
Executive Director
If you’d like to make an immediate difference, please consider contributing to Listen and Talk today. Whether it’s $20, $200, or more, every donation strengthens our foundation and brings us closer to achieving our shared vision of a world where no child is limited by hearing loss.
If a donation isn’t possible right now, there are other ways to make an impact! Help us by spreading the word about the work we do or getting involved in community events. Together, we can ensure that no child is limited by hearing loss.