When Alex Haban was born with moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss due to the Connexin 26 gene, his parents, Byron Haban and Kelly Pitocco, were scared and uncertain. “We worried about his future and how we would have a relationship and communicate with him,” Kelly recounts. Upon receiving the news of Alex’s diagnosis, the …
Dear Ohio Valley Voices Friends and Family, Summer is here, and so are the cicadas! Last Thursday, May 27th, we celebrated the graduation of the Class of 2021. Anyone who tuned into the Facebook livestream knows what a fun, moving occasion it was. Our eight graduates received their diplomas and gave their farewell speeches, eliciting …
Preston Conroy is an outgoing eight-year-old with a witty sense of humor—and, as of last Thursday, a proud graduate of OVV. Preston’s parents, Brian Conroy and Stacey Dugan, first found out their son had hearing loss when he failed his newborn hearing screening. After three more failed tests, they took him to Dayton Children’s Hospital …
Founded in Cincinnati in 1885, The David J. Joseph Company (DJJ) is America’s most trusted full-service scrap recycling company. Built the old-fashioned way through hard work, good business sense, and loyal customer relationships, it operates trading offices and scrap yards—as well as U Pull and Pay, a self-serve used auto part store—throughout the United States. …
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For OVV Program Director Carey Ratliff, working in deaf education is a calling. Carey grew up in a small town about an hour north of Pittsburgh. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Deaf Education from the University of Indiana Pennsylvania and her master’s degree in Deaf Education from the University of San Diego’s John Tracy …
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Dear Ohio Valley Voices Friends and Family, May marks the end of the 2020-2021 academic year. In just a few weeks’ time, on Thursday, May 27th, eight children will graduate from our program while the rest will commence summer break. I couldn’t be prouder of our graduates. Together, these young superstars—Phoenix, Liam, Jace, Preston, Chase, …
As most high school seniors get ready to move to a new city or state for college in the fall, Ohio Valley Voices alumni Cecilia Wilhelmy prepares for an even grander adventure: she’ll be moving to Spain. There, amidst ancient Moorish ruins and modern marvels like Antoni Gaudi’s Basilica de la Sagrada de Familia, she’ll …
Born and raised in Amelia, Michelle Ellis first applied to a teaching position at Ohio Valley Voices in 2018. Reminiscing about her initial visit to OVV, Michelle says, “I knew the moment I stepped into a classroom that it was where I was meant to be.” Michelle sets the scene: “During my first tour of …
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Dr. Thomas Fischer knows firsthand the pain, confusion, and fear felt by parents of children with hearing loss. Born in Dayton but raised in Cincinnati, Tom graduated from St. Xavier High School and Xavier University before attending the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. After completing a residency in pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and …
Dear Ohio Valley Voices Friends and Family, Spring is in full bloom and wow does it feel good! I think I speak for everyone when I say the previous winter—indeed, the entire previous year—has been exceptionally difficult, making the coming of spring all the more satisfying. There is a palpable feeling of optimism in the …