For the Babies Gala

Save the Date!  Thursday, May 17

6:00-10:00PM

The Villa, Mountain Lakes, NJ

To Benefit The Lake Drive Sound Start Program

For Babies Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Honorary Chair-Angela Kubisky

Executive Vice President, Membership and Marketing at Morris County Chamber of Commerce

Keynote Speaker – Sue Thomas, "F.B. Eye"

Former Undercover F.B.I. Agent, Writer, Speaker, and Trainer of Special Skills Dogs for Hearing Impaired Individuals

Honoree – Dr. Laura Crawford, Au.D. FAAA CCC/A

Program Director of MidAtlantic Newborn and Infant Medical Services (MANIMS), Providing Newborn Hearing Screening for 10,000 babies a year at St. Clare's Hospital, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, and Chilton Hospital.

About Keynote Speaker, Sue Thomas

Sue Thomas is profoundly deaf. But nothing can keep this indomitable woman from living her life to the fullest. At the age of 18 months Sue Thomas suffered an instant and total loss of sound.  When her devastated parents were told that little Sue would never amount to anything,  they made a vow to do whatever it would take to enable their daughter to become successful in the 'hearing world'. 

Through speech therapy Sue developed her voice. She also became an expert lip reader.  At the age of seven, Thomas became the youngest Ohio State Champion free-style skater in skating history. She learned to play piano, attended public school and graduated from Springfield College with a degree in Political Science and International Affairs. 

After college, Sue heard that the FBI was looking for deaf people. She started out as a fingerprint examiner, but when an FBI agent discovered her lip reading ability, she became a key member of an undercover surveillance team.

In 1990 Sue Thomas wrote her autobiography entitled Silent Night. The acclaimed book became the basis for the TV series to follow. Sue Thomas:  F.B.Eye was watched by more than 2.5 million viewers in the United States and was syndicated to 60 nations. The weekly drama helped raise awareness of the abilities of those with physical challenges.

In spite of being diagnosed in 2001 with multiple sclerosis, Sue remains active as a compelling speaker and runs a nonprofit center in Vermont to train special skill dogs like “Katie” to assist hearing impaired individuals.

About our Honoree, Dr. Laura Crawford

As Program Director of MidAtlantic Newborn and Infant Medical Services (MANIMS), Dr. Crawford oversees newborn hearing screening for nearly 10,000 babies a year in four major hospitals, Morristown Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center, St. Clare’s Hospital and Chilton Hospital. Dr. Crawford is responsible for the program’s development, implementation, daily oversight, clinical research and annual conference, Current Topics in Congenital Hearing Loss.

Under her leadership, MANIMS’s model is a leading program in the state in identifying and tracking the follow up of newborns with hearing loss. Statewide, 56.7% of babies who do not pass their newborn hearing screening rates are lost to follow up.  Dr. Crawford’s team ensures that every infant receives testing, and rescreening when necessary, prior to discharge.  Fewer than 0.1% of infants are lost to discharge.

With future plans to publish results MANIMS strives to contribute to the success of newborn hearing screening programs both nationally and internationally.

 

 

In New Jersey, Universal Newborn Hearing Screening was mandated effective in January 2002.   Dr. Crawford reflects how Newborn Hearing Screening has given babies with hearing loss a sound start for successful futures.          

"I will never forget the first time I had to tell a parent that their child had a significant hearing loss. The child was a little boy age 3 who had bright blue eyes. I gave him some crayons and paper and sat down with mom as she cried. You can imagine the feeling of loss for her “perfect” little boy but what she cried the most over was how guilty she felt that she had missed it, not seen the signs, was not there for him. She expressed how she should have done something sooner and blamed herself not only for the hearing loss but the delay.  She was distraught over the fact that she constantly yelled at him for not listening or following directions.

Unfortunately this scenario played out too often. The advent of universal newborn hearing screening could never take away feelings of loss, anger, denial and heartache a parent feels when they find out that something is wrong with their child. With counseling and education however the feelings are replaced with hope, assurance and confidence in the success of their child. Universal newborn hearing screening took away the most important aspects of a new diagnosis, shock, regret and guilt.

I have been extremely fortunate in my career to see the changes that early diagnosis and early intervention can make in the lives of children born with hearing loss. I am extremely proud to be cog in this process, one part of a system that finally works.

This award is indeed an honor. The Lake Drive Program is not only one of the most committed programs to excellence in education, but what stands out is their commitment to the children. Just walking through the doors you can sense the genuine concern and love the staff, teachers, directors and administrators all express for the children. It is a privilege to work with them all.”  -Dr. Laura Crawford