From the CEO
This month marks 40 years since Paul and Louise Oberkotter, guided by the hearing loss journey of their daughter Mildred (Mildie), set out to ensure that children who are deaf or hard of hearing could reach their full potential through listening and spoken language. From that inspiring beginning, countless families, professionals, and partners have joined together to open a world of new possibilities for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This moment is more than just a milestone in the Foundation's timeline. It's also an opportunity to further the mission and take action to create the future we all envision for children with hearing loss—a brighter future without barriers, filled with opportunity to develop age-appropriate listening, talking, and literacy skills.
A Legacy of Hope
Over the past four decades, the Foundation’s philanthropic funding and grant investments have been a catalyst to empower parents and the professionals who support them to reach the dreams they have for their children to listen, talk, read, and thrive just like their hearing friends. Because of the combined efforts of many, more families now have access to the knowledge, resources, and services their children need to reach their full potential.
A Future of Possibilities
As we honor the Oberkotter legacy and look ahead to a bright future for children with hearing loss, the Foundation has two opportunities to share with you: a funding opportunity to support family navigator programs and a new platform to spark ideas and share lessons learned from across our field.
Request for Proposals
Today, the Oberkotter Foundation announced a new funding opportunity and is seeking proposals for navigator programs that support timely access to newborn hearing healthcare. The Foundation's goal is to assist families in achieving and accelerating early hearing detection, identification, and intervention benchmarks to promote the development of age-appropriate spoken language and literacy milestones for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Learn more about the request for proposals.
Showcase Series
The Oberkotter Foundation is launching a Showcase Series to highlight innovative and impactful projects in communities across the country that are maximizing listening and spoken language outcomes and strengthening our shared work. The Showcase kicks off with a webinar - Georgia: Struggle. Common Ground. Progress. - on October 14 to share the collective efforts in the state of Georgia to improve literacy outcomes for children with hearing loss, including new legislation, programs, and initiatives.
This year is also meaningful as we mark 10 years of families and professionals coming together through Hearing First, a subsidiary of the Foundation that overcomes geographical barriers by providing LSL knowledge, resources, education, and connections available anytime, anywhere online.
This 40th anniversary is both a reminder of our purpose and a call to not only envision, but also to actively build, a future where every child with hearing loss has equal access to the care and opportunities they deserve. The journey forward is one we all share, and I look forward to the next chapter of partnership, possibility, and progress for children with hearing loss.
Read more about the Foundation's 40 years of impact here.
Teresa H. Caraway, PhD, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT
Chief Executive Officer
The Latest From the Foundation
Request for Grant Proposals to Support Navigator Programs
The Oberkotter Foundation has released a request for proposals that seeks to fund navigator programs that support timely access to newborn hearing healthcare.
Early identification and intervention for children with hearing loss is critical to achieve age-appropriate listening and spoken language outcomes. The JCIH (2000) states that infants should receive a hearing screening by 1 month, a diagnostic evaluation by 3 months, and be enrolled in intervention by 6 months. Despite these recommendations only 40% of babies who need further evaluation after a hearing screening receive it by 3 months and just 41% are enrolled in early intervention by 6 months (CDC, 2024). Navigators can play a critical role in helping families understand the importance of timely follow-up after newborn hearing screenings, navigate healthcare systems, and connect with early intervention services.
This RFP seeks to support organizations introducing or expanding navigator programs, particularly in underserved communities. Non-profit, 501(c)(3) organizations within the United States serving families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing are invited to apply through November 28, 2025.
News & Events
Oberkotter Foundation Showcase | Georgia: Struggle. Common Ground. Progress.
Join the Foundation for a live webinar to learn how collaboration across the state of Georgia has improved literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
On October 14, the first event in the Foundation's new Showcase Series will explore how the state of Georgia is introducing initiatives to improve literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing through the collective efforts of nonprofits, advocates, and policymakers. Learn how the state of Georgia is leveraging parent navigator programs, mobile audiology services, and data-driven advocacy to help children who are deaf or hard of hearing be identified sooner, supported faster, and set on a path to reach third-grade-reading levels by the time they reach third grade.
Event Details
Oct. 14, 2025 | 1 pm ET
Presentation by | Kelly Jenkins, Program Manager, Access to Language
Moderator | Dr. Teresa Caraway, CEO, Oberkotter Foundation
