The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) is the world's leading membership organization and information center on pediatric hearing loss and the auditory approach.

AG Bell advocates the use of technology to maximize residual hearing, written and spoken language, and speechreading skills.

Comprised of persons who are hearing impaired, parents, and professionals, the association provides financial aid for mainstreamed, auditory-based education to qualifying applicants at pre-school, school-age and university level.

AG Bell offers a wide range of services to its members, as well as providing general information to visitors and friends. Regional conferences and biennial conventions are held to educate both members and non-members on issues relating to hearing loss.

The mission of the Alexander Graham Bell Association of the Deaf is to empower persons who are hearing impaired to function independently by promoting universal rights and optimal opportunities for such persons, from infancy through adulthood, to learn to use, maintain, and improve all aspects of their verbal communication, including their abilities to speak, speech read, use residual hearing and process both spoken and written language.

Dear Friends:

Now that we're well into 2003, it's worth taking a moment to look back and see what we did on several fronts in 2002:

• Assembled a new board of talented, committed parents and professionals;
• Created this Web site, and the speaker's bureau;

Now in its 14th year, the New York Chapter of the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is a volunteer-led organization that helps provide a local forum for Association issues. We help provide opportunities for parents, people who are deaf or hard of hearing, and professionals to work together to promote the mission of AG Bell close to home.

Here is what we do:

• Serve as a clearinghouse for information to parents, professionals, and the general public about auditory approaches for children with hearing loss, including auditory-oral, auditory-verbal and Cued Speech options;
• Assist parents and professionals to ensure that children with hearing
  loss receive a free and appropriate education that meets their communication and academic needs;
• Help educate our members about advances in hearing technology designed to maximize the speaking/ listening potential of people with hearing loss;
• Hold an annual conference for parents and professionals; and;
• Publish an online newsletter, Soundwaves, which shares news and events of interest around New York.