Hand-N-Hand of Northeastern Wisconsin, Inc. (Hand-N-Hand) is a nonprofit organization which provides specialized support and facilitates resources for families with children experiencing hearing loss. In 2002, Hand-N-Hand began as a playgroup; in January 2004, it became a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3) tax exempt letter). Our vision is that in Northeast Wisconsin, all babies and young children who are identified with hearing loss will have a centralized resource. This centralized resource would combine the existing efforts from Hand-N-Hand and create a regional alliance with other agencies that provide services for families with children experiencing hearing loss.
Before Hand-N-Hand was started, no social programs existed north of Milwaukee for children younger than school age. Now opportunities occur weekly for young children with hearing loss and their families. Hand-N-Hand promotes language, early literacy, and social and emotional development as well as provides information and resources about hearing loss. Weekly playgroups, outings, parent and community education classes for children and adults, outreach, a lending library, and scholarships are offered at Hand-N-Hand. Classes are taught by individuals educated in the Deaf & Hard of Hearing field as well as Deaf & Hard of Hearing individuals.
Hand-N-Hand was founded with the goal of providing resources, language and social support to young children with hearing loss, families and the professionals who support them. Since 2002, Hand-N-Hand has been the voice that makes a difference in the lives of families who have children with a hearing difference throughout Northeast Wisconsin.
HNH proudly celebrates 20 years as a nonprofit supporting deaf and hard of hearing children and families. Enjoy snippets of our memories through the years! Hand-N-Hand 20th Anniversary video (7 min.)
Click here for the Hand-N-Hand brochure.
Jenny Geiken, founder of Hand-N-Hand, Director and Deaf Educator, has a solid educational foundation related to the unique needs of children with hearing loss. Jenny brings innovation and fortitude to deaf education and support in Northeast Wisconsin with more than 20 years of experience in the field of Deafness and 15 years in Early Intervention. She has taught within the public school system; plus she was part of the initial Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS) initiative in Wisconsin, taking part in the Wisconsin Sound Beginnings (WSB) Birth to Three Consultant training (2001) and has served as a WSB CARES Specialist (2016-17). Employing expertise in working with very young children who are deaf or hard of hearing and their families, she has been an independent consultant to Early Intervention Programs since 2002. Jenny received her BS in Deaf Education from UW Milwaukee and her commitment to professional excellence includes Professional Preparation in Cochlear Implants and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Toddlers and their Families: Collaboration and Leadership Interdisciplinary Graduate Certificate.
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