Children's Hearing and Speech Centre of BC Foundation

The Children's Hearing and Speech Centre of BC Foundation is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children who are deaf and hard of hearing through listening and spoken language education. It operates as a registered charity under the business registration number 139417471RR0001 and has been serving the community since 1963.

History and Background

Founded initially as the Vancouver Oral Centre for Deaf Children by a group of parents along with Hilda Gregory C.M., O.B.C—a distinguished educator for the deaf—the organization evolved into the Children's Hearing & Speech Centre of BC (CHSC). It stands as the only listening and spoken language centre in Western Canada focused on teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing to communicate effectively using spoken language rather than sign language.

Mission and Objectives

The mission of the Centre is to teach children who are deaf and hard of hearing to listen and speak, thereby equipping them with essential skills and confidence to achieve their fullest potential. The foundation emphasizes family involvement, early identification, and intervention to ensure children receive optimal support from newborn stages through to Grade 12.

Key objectives include:

• Providing early intervention and educational services tailored to newborns, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and children up to Grade 3.
• Supporting students up to Grade 12 in independent schools across British Columbia.
• Fostering a spoken language environment exclusive of sign language to enhance listening and spoken language skills.
• Partnering with families as active participants in their child’s educational journey.
• Leading professional development in deaf education, ensuring best practices.
• Supporting individual communication preferences and technologies tailored to children’s unique needs.
• Offering resources and support regionally, provincially, and nationally.

Programs and Services

CHSC offers comprehensive programs and services that encompass clinical and educational support, focusing on listening and spoken language interventions. Through these, hundreds of children have been taught to integrate into the hearing world effectively, achieving independent lives comparable to their hearing peers.

Impact and Recognition

The Centre is recognized for its unique role in Western Canada as the sole independent institution specializing in listening and spoken language education for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Alumni families have credited the Centre with being a transformative resource that lays a solid foundation for children’s transition into mainstream education and society.

Summary

The Children's Hearing and Speech Centre of BC Foundation continues to be a critical resource, championing the development of listening and spoken language skills among children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Its family-centered approach, early intervention focus, and commitment to spoken language education position it as a leader in the field of deaf education in Canada.

Note: This article is based on publicly available information about the Children's Hearing & Speech Centre of BC and its foundation status.