Spokane HOPE provides resources to children with hearing disabilities

Spokane HOPE's major goal: teach children who are deaf or hard of hearing to listen, speak and succeed in any kindergarten classroom. HOPE sends 97% of its students into kindergarten, Danette Driscoll, executive director, said.

Section:Gallery

Sun., Sept. 12, 2021

Students, from left, Kami DeFee, 5, Cadence Elliott, 5, and Lucas McCaslin, 4, put together a stick man on the floor of their preschool class with the help of teacher Elizabeth Anderson, right, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Spokane, Washington. It was the first day of the school year for students who receive services through the center, usually those between 12 months to five years of age. The non-profit has contracts with the state of Washington and local school districts to help kids with hearing issues, but the reimbursement only covers about one third of the costs. The rest of the funds come through grants, donations and general fundraising. In October, they will have their annual Hoedown for HOPE fundraiser.

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Kami DeFee, 5, raises her hand to answer a question in her preschool class Tuesday at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Kami DeFee, 5, center, talks about what it feels like when she touches flour they were using to make clay in her preschool class Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Spokane, Washington. At left is Cadence Elliott, 5, and at right is Lucas McCaslin, 4. It was the first day of the school year for students who receive services through the center, usually those between 12 months to five years of age. The non-profit has contracts with the state of Washington and local school districts to help kids with hearing issues, but the reimbursement only covers about one third of the costs. The rest of the funds come through grants, donations and general fundraising. In October, they will have their annual Hoedown for HOPE fundraiser.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Alex Lewis, left, a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing children, asks Lukas Willoughby, 4, to use words to talk about a flash card he picked up during a preschool class Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Spokane, Washington. It was the first day of the school year for students who receive services through the center, usually those between 12 months to five years of age. The non-profit has contracts with the state of Washington and local school districts to help kids with hearing issues, but the reimbursement only covers about one third of the costs. The rest of the funds come through grants, donations and general fundraising. In October, they will have their annual Hoedown for HOPE fundraiser.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Maddie Hamilton, 5, and Lukas WIlloughby, 4, watch intently as Alex Lewis, not shown, a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing children, prepares to make clay for their preschool class Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Spokane, Washington. It was the first day of the school year for students who receive services through the center, usually those between 12 months to five years of age who have some kind of hearing loss. The non-profit has contracts with the state of Washington and local school districts to help kids with hearing issues, but the reimbursement only covers about one third of the costs. The rest of the funds come through grants, donations and general fundraising. In October, they will have their annual Hoedown for HOPE fundraiser.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
It was the first day of preschool classes Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021 at Spokane HOPE Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children in Spokane, Washington. For students who receive services through the center, usually those between 12 months to five years of age who have some kind of hearing loss, it was a chance to sit in class with their peers for the first time in a long time. The non-profit has contracts with the state of Washington and local school districts to help kids with hearing issues, but the reimbursement only covers about one third of the costs. The rest of the funds come through grants, donations and general fundraising. In October, they will have their annual Hoedown for HOPE fundraiser.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo