Parents and service providers urge county funding to preserve Hear Wisconsin services
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Parents and officials from Hear Wisconsin told supervisors the organization provides the only hearing‑loss‑specific early intervention in the state and asked the county to add $150,000 to sustain services when ARPA support ends in 2026.
Multiple parents and staff from Hear Wisconsin told the board on Oct. 27 that the organization is the only provider of hearing‑loss‑specific early intervention in Wisconsin and that a loss of county funding would leave infants and toddlers without specialized services.
“I truly don't know where we would be without them,” said Aubrey Klein, a parent whose deaf, hard‑of‑hearing child receives services from Hear Wisconsin. Speakers described measurable improvements since the county partnership began: increased enrollment, earlier entry into services (average age approaching six months) and better language outcomes for children served.
Hear Wisconsin staff and board members asked supervisors to include $150,000 in the 2026 budget to replace ARPA funds scheduled to sunset and to preserve services that families cannot obtain through existing Birth to 3 funding streams, they said. “When babies with hearing loss receive specialized therapy early, ideally by 6 months of age, it builds the brain pathways for language and connection,” Amy Larios, director of Hear Wisconsin’s child and family program, said.
Ending: Parents and providers said sustaining Hear Wisconsin would keep early‑intervention gains intact for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing children across Milwaukee County and urged the board to consider the $150,000 appropriation along with broader Birth to 3 funding discussions.