Adults and children enjoyed entertainment, homemade baked goodies and the chance to win prizes as they visited information sessions designed to help them get along better in the hearing world.

The entertainment included a group of 20 youths dressed in yellow T-shirts and jeans dancing and signing to popular music. Other booths had storytelling, magic shows, a mini-fair for kids and, later in the day, a family gathering with a cookout by the Knights of Columbus.

Cynthia Jones of Covington joined the Support Network a couple of months ago. She discovered her 3-year-old daughter, Molly, was deaf at birth when she failed a hearing test and was diagnosed with severe to profound hearing loss. Molly has had cochlea implants and is learning to sign.

"I joined the group because it is nice to other parents who have been there and to get advice or help along the way," Jones said,

Heidi Givens is one of the grass roots members and is a teacher for a regional program in Owensboro.

"It is important to have professionals get involved," she said. "We are able to provide support through the educational system, especially for those who live in the rural areas."

Kristen Zeller came from Lawrenceburg. Her granddaughter, Elizabeth Holcomb, wears two hearing aids and is beginning to learn sign language. Elizabeth has a small vocabulary right now to go with her tiny frame but her hands and eyes were very expressive as she sat in her grandmother's lap enjoying the sun and other kids. Zeller wants to be able to communicate better with her granddaughter and is learning how along the way.

Support Network started in December

The Support Network was conceived in December after a parent leadership training conference held at KSD. It has approximately 30 members. Although the organization is statewide, their goal is to establish smaller local groups to address local concerns and meet quarterly as a state group.

Cristal Collins of Stanford, who handles public relations for the group, has a 2-year-old daughter who is deaf and learning total communication skills, including sign language, speaking, lip reading and body language. "The biggest thing is to let other people know, who are going through the same problems, that there is help," she said.

Collins said they would like to attract more professionals who are familiar with the hard of hearing to work with these families. The group will hold its next meeting Sept. 10 at KSD. For more information, contact Collins at (606) 365-0477 or online at cristalcollins@hotmail.com.

By Terri Carter