[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 99 (Tuesday, July 17, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1342]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN HONOR OF THE CLEVELAND HEARING AND SPEECH CENTER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 17, 2001

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the great work of 
the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center in spreading awareness of 
hearing loss issues and in providing services to those who are affected 
by hearing loss.
  Founded by President Garfield's daughter-in-law, Helen Newell 
Garfield, in 1921 the CHSC is the oldest hearing and speech center in 
the United States and the only nonprofit organization in Northeast Ohio 
dedicated soley to meeting the hearing, speech, and deafness needs of 
the community.
  To observe its 80th year anniversary this year CHSC will partner with 
14 Cleveland attractions for the first annual Communication 
Celebration. American Sign Language interpreters will be placed at each 
of the following attractions: The Children's Museum of Cleveland, 
Cleveland Botanical Garden, The Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, 
Cleveland Metroparks Nature Centers, Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, The 
Cleveland Museum of Art, The Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Great 
Lakes Science Center, The Health Museum of Cleveland, Lake View 
Cemetery, The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame & 
Museum, Steamship William G. Mather Museum, and Western Reserve 
Historical Society. The event will serve as the culmination of National 
Deaf Awareness Week.
  This is an issue that affects many people. More than 28 million 
Americans have a hearing loss and approximately 2 million of them are 
profoundly deaf. One of every 22 infants has hearing problems and one 
of every 1000 infants is born deaf. But, unfortunately, only an 
estimated 20 percent of people who could benefit from hearing aids have 
them. Nonetheless communications skills are the number one predictor of 
academic success for children and the number one predictor of success 
at the workplace for adults.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in applauding the efforts of this great 
organization in spreading awareness and for the hard work it has 
contributed to this cause.

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