The history of CDHH dates
back to 1927, when two neighbors, Herman H. Beyer and Father Stephen
Klopfer, began discussing the needs of d/Deaf and hard of hearing
individuals in the Milwaukee area and considering what could be
done to help those faced with the unique challenges of hearing
loss. Mr. Beyer knew first hand about the difficulties of life
with hearing loss, since he was hard of hearing himself and wore
a hearing aid. Father Klopfer, a dedicated teacher at St. John’s
School for the Deaf, also held a strong interest in helping the
deaf and hard of hearing. Eventually, the discussions between these
two neighbors resulted in the formation of the Milwaukee League
for the Hard of Hearing on October 28, 1927.
The first meeting of the new League was held at the Milwaukee
Journal Building. Twenty people joined the new organization and
elected Mr. Beyer as its first president. The purpose agreed
upon at that time was to provide a “center for the deafened
where social intercourse and opportunity for mutual inspiration
and helpfulness may be encouraged and provided, and to be an
active instrument of helpfulness to the deafened in every way.”
During the 1940's, great strides were made toward developing
the organization as it exists today. In 1944, the agency was
incorporated and the name was changed to the Milwaukee Society
for the Hard of Hearing, and then shortly thereafter changed
again to the Milwaukee Hearing Society. Programs were established
for the d/Deaf and hard of hearing such as lipreading and auditory
training classes, a hearing aid loan program, classes for preschoolers
as well as grade school and high school students, and parent
education classes.
From the 1950's until 1993, the organization continued to thrive
and strengthen its programs for those with hearing loss by adding
staff members and increasing its financial base. In 1994, the
name was again changed to the current Center for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing in an effort to more adequately describe the
services provided and populations served at the agency. A new
Mission Statement, to provide and promote state-of-the-art services
and technologies that enhance the quality of life of individuals
with hearing loss, was also adopted to reflect the changing times
and broader focus of the agency. The next several years also
saw the development of three new programs to further expand the
reach of the agency. UniversaLink, the assistive technology program,
was established to meet the needs of individuals seeking assistive
devices for their home and workplace. CommunicationLink, the
interpreter coordination service, was added to meet the extensive
need in our community for qualified sign language interpreters.
Finally, a unique collaboration was established with the University
of Wisconsin Milwaukee to enable the CDHH to provide a full range
of audiological services to its clients from certified Audiologists,
who worked from both the UW-Milwaukee campus and at CDHH.
On October 1, 2005, one of the organization’s long-time
dreams was finally realized – the Center for the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing moved into a home of its own on National Avenue
in West Allis. The new location provided many benefits, ranging
from ample parking to improved bus service, from prominent signage
to an outdoor play area for the Center’s youngest clients.
Additionally, the Center’s collaboration with the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to provide audiological services was officially
renamed Community Audiology Services, and the increased space
at the new building allowed for additional staff and audiological
testing equipment. Complete hearing testing and evaluations as
well as hearing aids and custom hearing protection devices were
finally available in one location – at the Center. CDHH
had truly become one-stop-shop for services and products related
to hearing loss.
From its modest beginnings as a support group for hard of hearing
individuals, the Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has
grown to become the primary resource for those with hearing loss
throughout Southeastern Wisconsin and beyond. The Center is grateful
to all who have supported the agency throughout its long history
and looks forward to the new challenges and opportunities ahead.
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