A fundraiser and knitting project created by Ann and Blain Myhre for the preschool at the Marion Downs Hearing Center Foundation in Denver, CO. Funds raised will go toward tutition for deaf and hard-of-hearing preschoolers. Here is the story of one of the preschoolers who will receive a knitted elephant with matching blankie from a great group of knitters through Knitty Cat:
Peyton was born in China and grew up in an orphanage until she was adopted at 3 years of age. When she came to the United States, she was identified as being profoundly deaf in both ears. When Peyton was 3 1/2 years old she got cochlear implants and for the first time in her life, she could hear. She was eager to communicate and interact but her social skills were delayed. This past summer, Peyton attended Marion’s Way Preschool, the only preschool in the Denver Metro Area for deaf and hard of hearing children. According to Karen, Peyton’s mom, “the teachers at Marion’s Way gave Petyon full focus and helped her socialize, interact, and look people in the eyes. She was able to build her vocabulary thanks to the repetive and rich language that she was around.” Without intervention services and support, young children who are deaf or hard of hearing can potentially develop speech, language and learning delays. Peyton’s mom believes that “If Peyton had not attended Marion’s Way Preschool, her speech and language development would not be where it is today”. It wasn’t just Peyton’s experience that made the summer camp so valuable, it was also the parent information sessions that helped Karen and her husband get the total “kid picture”.