Teen Program
The objective of the Marion Downs Hearing Center’s (MDHC) Teen Program is to help prepare teenagers who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) for a critical transition period in life: graduating from high school and either starting college or entering the work force.
Starting college or a new career is a challenge for every young adult, hearing or deaf. However, those who are DHH may be faced with additional challenges ranging from appropriate classroom accommodations (ASL interpreters, CART, notetakers, etc.) to getting through a “phone screening” for a potential job. Unfortunately, some teens who are DHH are unprepared to manage these challenges. Our Teen Program strives to prepare teenagers with the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to successfully transition to independent adulthood.
The main themes addressed in this program are:
- Self-advocacy skills
- Technology options (both for personal listening use and classroom/workforce)
- Legal rights
The MDHC Teen Program has three components:
- Teen Day – Annual one-day event open to all Colorado high school teens
- Campus Connections – Annual overnight summer camp hosted at University of Colorado, Boulder for college-bound teens
- Teen Volunteer Service – Year-round program for teens looking for meaningful, communication accessible volunteer work experience.
