International Summer Session Picnic
June 27, 2008
 Twenty families from four countries and eight US states attended Sunday’s picnic at JTC, a special celebratory event for families enrolled in International Summer Session II. They were joined by many Preschool and Alumni families, who raised funds for JTC through the sale of unique logo gifts, including a beautiful new cap and 65th Anniversary bag made special for JTC by the Tan family.
For the 14th year, the picnic was sponsored by John Joe Aguilar, who provided for food and entertainment, including lunch from IN&OUT Burger and Kermit’s Ice Cream, and the antics of Hiccups the Clown. Mr. Aquilar, who has also provided free Dodger tickets to our families, was praised by President Barbara F. Hecht as exemplifying the spirit of giving back embraced by founder Louise Tracy.
Stolen Hearing Device Likely Mistaken for Bluetooth
July 14, 2008
 On Saturday, July 5, JTC preschooler José Franco, and his mother, Hilda, were having lunch at a McDonald's in their neighborhood when two teens grabbed the external part of Jose’s cochlear implant (CI) right off of his head and ran out the door.
It was the second time Jose’s implant had been stolen. The first time was at a local market and Hilda ran after the boys, who dropped it in the parking lot. She was profoundly shaken by this second act, which left Jose disoriented and cut off from the world of sound, and the family feeling more vulnerable than ever.
Jose’s father, Elias Franco, believes the thieves did not intend to steal Jose’s cochlear implant, but, rather, thought it might be a Bluetooth cellphone headset. Such headsets are in high demand now that California law no longer allows drivers to talk on hand-held phones.
Jose, like most of the children at JTC, has the popular version of the implant in which the external transmitter and microphone are worn behind-the-ear rather than on the body. These types of devices can easily be mistaken for the new cellphones.
The Francos filed a police report and posted flyers with a photo and description of the CI hoping that the thieves would return it. Although the device costs several thousand dollars, it is of no value to anyone but the owner. Each implant contains software that is mapped to match an individual’s specific nature and degree of hearing loss. Jose is currently wearing a back-up unit.
Alerted to the news by one of his preschool teachers, Jessica Berman, JTC staff called the Los Angeles Times hoping to stop a trend in this outrageous activity. Times reporter Mary Engel and photographer Bob Chamberlin covered the story, which ran in the California section, July 14, 2008. The story and JTC were also featured on KCBS, KCAL and CNN.
Los Angeles Times article: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-speech14-2008jul14,0,76955.story
CNN video: http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/07/17/lawrence.hearing.aid.cnn?iref=videosearch
MAY 23 - Kids and Grads Bid Farewell
 Nine talkative and excited children and their parents bid farewell to their teachers and friends at John Tracy Clinic at this year’s Farewell Ceremony held in the JTC Auditorium on May 23. Marcela Ugalde, mother of Chelsea, and Erasmo Perez, father of Akira, represented the parents with moving and thankful farewell remarks to an overflow crowd. Some of the children will continue for a time in auditory-oral settings at special schools in the area. Most will be fully mainstreamed with their hearing peers.
 Simultaneously, nine newly minted and self-assured teachers of the deaf graduated from the John Tracy Clinic/University of San Diego Master’s and Credential Program. Four of the graduates attended classes on JTC’s Los Angeles campus for 10 months and five completed their studies through the distance learning program over a two-year period. Following the Los Angeles farewell, the students and their families traveled to San Diego to participate in formal University of San Diego Commencement ceremonies.
Alumns Hold Bowling Benefit
John Tracy Clinic Alumni and Friends gathered at Mar Vista Lanes in West Los Angeles for a family afternoon of bowling and friendship. It was the third event planned by the new group, which is dedicated to fun and educational experiences, sharing stories and giving back to JTC. Plans are already in the making for a reprise of the event in 2009. The Alumni and Friends will meet again on June 21 and July 27 when they join JTC staff to welcome families from around the world at this year's International Summer Session picnics.
April 2008
Deaf Author Speaks to Parents
"When my parents found out I was deaf," author Josh Swiller told JTC parents at their Tuesday night class, "my mother said she knew it all along, even though the doctors said things like, 'He's just a little slow,' and 'He's at that age when he doesn't want to listen to you.' My father, on the other hand, felt like it was his fault and it took him a long time to get over it."
Josh, who visited JTC last fall on a whirlwind tour to promote his book, The Unheard, was invited back as guest speaker for parent class. The parents were riveted by his intensely personal and frequently hilarious account of growing up in both the deaf and hearing cultures.
"It's important to laugh about your situation sometimes," said Josh. "We're here to work with what we have. Deafness is going to create frustration, but it can also create wonderful things. In fact, it's a kind of blessing because it focuses your life and enables you to experience true silence, if you choose. And when it comes to college, it's a goldmine for scholarships."
Born to hearing parents, Josh had progressive deafness and was not diagnosed until he was four years old. He now wears a cochlear implant, which, he says, has greatly improved his speech. "I learned spoken language with my eyes," he recalled, "mostly through reading and regular speech therapy." He is also an expert lip reader and is fluent in American Sign Language.
Asked what further advice he had for the parents, he said: "Deaf children aren't made of glass, so don't tip toe around them, don't baby them. Having a house full of brothers, I didn't get treated like a poor little thing. They slugged me in the arm just like anyone else, harder in fact. I didn't get a pass on anything."
The Unheard is both the story of Josh's childhood and of his two, extraordinary years as the first deaf Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia.
April 2008
Alumna Named Miss Missouri International
JTC alumna Jayna Altman has won the title of Miss Missouri International 2008. She will travel to Chicago in July and represent Missouri as she competes for the title
of Miss International ® 2008. The Miss International ® Pageant is a production of International Pageants, Inc.
Jayna was born two months premature and spent the first three months of her life on a respirator. Medications that saved her life at the time also caused her to lose most of her hearing, and at age 2 1/2, she was diagnosed with severe to profound, bi-lateral hearing loss. Her parents enrolled in Demonstration Home at the Clinic’s Long Beach Center, where Jayna developed exceptional speech and language skills. Starting with kindergarten, she was completely mainstreamed in public school.
Jayna Altman graduated with honors and distinction in Communications from the University of California, San Diego. She also completed a study abroad program in Literature and European History at Oxford University in Oxford, England. Additionally, Jayna has completed coursework towards a doctorate in Audiology from CID/Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.
As a toddler, Jayna was the "Poster Child" for Orange County Guild's Celebrity Golf Tournaments, and since that time has offered her services to the Clinic as an alumni spokesperson and a regular participant in the youth panels for the Parent Education Program.
Jayna is no stranger to the world of pageantry. She was chosen as Miss Orange County 2004, and Miss Tri-Counties 2006 for the Miss America Organization. She also represented as Miss Tri-Counties USA 2007 for the Miss USA Organization.
Despite her hearing loss, Jayna Altman has never allowed obstacles to stand in her way. She is determined to succeed in life and wants to help young children with hearing loss achieve their dreams.
February 2008
Dr. Barbara F. Hecht Named Woman of Distinction
Barbara F. Hecht, Ph.D., president of John Tracy Clinic, was saluted, along with 80 “creative, astute women,” at the University of Southern California’s annual Women of Distinction awards ceremony on Wednesday, February 13, 2008. The Women of Distinction awards, chaired by Monica Lozano, publisher and CEO, La Opinion, and Joan Payden, President and CEO, Payden and Rygel Investment Management, celebrate the “commitment, optimism, and leadership” of professional women in Los Angeles.
February 2008
JTC Featured on Angels Walk
L.A.
 Directly across the street from the Clinic on Adams Boulevard, a stanchion dedicated to John Tracy Clinic and its rich, star-studded legacy has just been installed by Angels Walk L.A. The stanchion is part of a self-guided historic trail for a type of business and tourism promotion sometimes referred to as “Urban Exploration.” Angels Walk is a non-profit community promotional organization that works in partnership with Figueroa Corridor, the LA Neighborhood Council and others. Angels Walk Figueroa is about three miles long and is divided into three sections, Metro Figueroa, West Adams and USC/Exposition Park. The stanchions feature buildings that are officially recognized by the city, state or federal government for their architectural, cultural and historic importance. More information is available at www.angelswalkla.org.
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