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2003
Center for Deaf Children Celebrates 60th Anniversary
February 12, 2003
John Tracy Clinic, a highly acclaimed educational center for parents of infants
and preschool children with hearing losses, is celebrating its 60th year of
free family services in 2003.
The Clinic is considered a pioneering organization in parent-centered, speech
and language education for babies and preschool children with hearing losses.
It offers audiological assessments, parent/infant classes and counseling, along
with a preschool and two accredited teacher education programs. Its correspondence
courses serve annually over 2,500 families in as many as 140 countries around
the world, and its community hearing screening program reaches over 16,000 preschool
children per year in Los Angeles and three surrounding counties.
The Clinic is the only education center of its kind to provide all family services
free; its intensive three-week summer sessions are unique among schools for
the deaf; its sibling program is used as a model for deaf schools nationwide;
and, in collaboration with the University of Southern California (USC), it offers
the nation's first, online Master's Degree in early childhood deaf education.
John Tracy Clinic was incorporated as a private, nonprofit in 1943. Founded
by Louise Tracy, wife of actor Spencer Tracy, the Clinic was named in honor
of their son, John, who was born deaf. In 1952, the Clinic moved into its permanent
home in the Adams Boulevard Historic District near USC. In the 60 years since
its incorporation, the Clinic has helped over 200,000 parents worldwide open
the doors of communication for their young deaf children.
John Tracy Clinic is supported entirely by private donations, bequests and grants.
For more information on services, events or giving opportunities, contact Mary
Ann Bell, Vice President for Development and Communications, John Tracy
Clinic, 806 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, (213) 748-5481, ext. 229.
Center for Deaf Children Announces New President
May 30, 2003
John Tracy Clinic's Board of Directors announced today that Barbara F. Hecht,
Ph.D., has been elected as the Clinic's next president, effective September 1,
2003. The Clinic, founded in 1942 by Louise Tracy, wife of actor Spencer Tracy,
is a pioneering center for parents of young children with hearing losses. Dr.
Hecht, the Clinic's vice president of audiology, counseling and teacher education,
will hold the post of president elect during the transition. Dr. Hecht succeeds
Dr. James H. Garrity, who is retiring after 25 years of service with the private,
non-profit education center.
"I am extremely honored to be chosen to continue the critical work of Mrs.
Tracy in helping parents open the doors of communication for their young deaf
and hard-of-hearing children throughout the world," says Dr. Hecht. "During
my tenure," she adds, "I intend to bolster the Clinic's leadership role
in family-centered deaf education and early intervention."
Dr. Hecht received a bachelor's degree in linguistics from Harvard University
and her doctorate in linguistics and child language development from Stanford
University. She is a clinical professor of special education at the University
of Southern California (USC). Formerly a faculty member in UCLA's Special Education
and Educational Psychology Doctoral Program, Dr. Hecht has been with John Tracy
Clinic since 1992. Over the last 11 years, she has supervised a multidisciplinary
department of professional staff, while taking the lead in working with local
pediatricians and hospitals to implement California's Newborn Hearing Screening
Law; carrying out important technological upgrades in the Clinic's Audiologic
Assessment Program; and overseeing the development of the nation's first, online
accredited master's degree and teaching credential in deaf education in cooperation
with the USC/Rossier School of Education.
John Tracy Clinic, which celebrates its 60th Anniversary this year, is supported
entirely by individual donations, bequests and grants. All services are free.
For more information, visit the Clinic's website at www.jtc.org
or contact Mary Ann Bell, Vice President for Development and Communications, John
Tracy Clinic, 806 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007, (213) 748-5481, ext.
229.
Sunrise Courtyard to Display Commemorative Bricks
LOS ANGELES -As part of the 60th Anniversary Celebration, John Tracy Clinic
will build the Sunrise Courtyard, a delightful new gathering area and sanctuary
for our families.
This lovely new landscaped space will display Personally Engraved Commemorative
Bricks with accents of colored tiles and children's art. Designed to last for
generations, these special bricks are available for alumni and friends who wish
to honor their families or businesses, memorialize their loved ones, and show
their support for JTC children and parents, all the while adding to the beauty
of our campus.
We are certain that the Sunrise Courtyard will become a perennial source of
pride and ownership to all those who participate. The number of bricks is necessarily
limited and we encourage interested families and supporters to reserve theirs
as soon as possible. The brick program will continue until all the spaces are
named. The closing date for initial brick orders has been set for August 29,
2003.
Bricks range in price from $125.00 to $350.00. Your sponsorship of a brick is
both a celebration of our 60th Anniversary and an acknowledgment of your commitment
to the future of children with hearing losses.
For further information, you may print a pdf file of the complete
brochure and order form, or contact Mary
Ann Bell, Vice President for Fund Development and Communications (213) 748-5481,
ext. 229.
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