The largest non-profit hearing and speech center in the country is located here in Western New York on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus. In its 60th year serving Western New Yorkers, the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center (BHSC) is looking to expand its diagnosis and treatment services by conducting a feasibility study survey to help solidify need-areas for growth and sustainability through its upcoming strategic fundraising campaign.
The BHSC has a number of programs that enhance the quality of life for children, teens, adults, and the elderly dealing with various communication disorders. From speech-language impediments to hearing and learning difficulties, BHSC offers accredited and certified professional support for community members and the resources for continued growth. With over 350 staff made up speech pathologists, audiologists, occupational therapists physical therapists, early childhood educators and more, the environment created for learning and advancement is one that families with a loved one receiving treatment cherish.
To-date, the organization has served more than 100,000 individuals. To serve even more, there are four key initiatives that BHSC is looking to generate feedback and support for based on assessments from its leadership team are:
- Building: $900,000 to retire the mortgage on the main facility at 50 East North Street freeing up operational support so it can be reinvested into the audiology clinic which serves more than 7,000 patients annually. The clinic is one of the only audiology providers in Western New York that accepts Medicaid which accounts for 44% of the patient base. The clinic is the only service provider that also simultaneously addresses multiple health and human service issues related to hearing and speech disorders in one centralized location.
- 3 Fund Endowments: $3.5 Million
*Language to Literacy™ Fund: $1,000,000 to establish a Language to Literacy™ Fund allowing the Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center to grow this very successful Language to Literacy™ program for children 3 to 18 years old. This intervention literacy program assists 365 students to increase an average of 1.3 grade levels in just 20 sessions.
*Social Communication™ Fund: $1,000,000 to establish a Social Communication™ Fund to serve more children 5 to 17 years old who struggle with conversational skills, self-regulating skills and important every-day problem-solving and cooperation skills. There are currently65 children per year served, but the goal is to serve at least 200 per year.
*Early Childhood Center Fund: $1,500,000 to establish the Early Childhood Center Fund to serve more children with autism spectrum disorder, various disabilities and behavior challenges. The center currently helps more than 250 children each day but looks to serve more. Rremaining at the forefront in treating these health conditions which have such a large impact on society today is challenging. BHSC has specially trained speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists provide services in nine school sites and throughout the community to over 2,400 children each year. Combined therapies come at a high cost and reimbursement rates rarely cover 100% of actual costs.
If you would like to support BHSC’s mission improve the quality of life for all with communication disorders by delivering cutting edge diagnosis and treatment of hearing and speech impairments and related special education services or to simply learn more about the feasibility study being conducted by The Steier Group, visit www.askbhsc.org. All surveys are encouraged to be in by Friday, May 24th. Click here to take the survey.
Learn more about BHSC below:
*May has been designated as National Better Hearing and Speech Month. BHSC is offering free hearing screenings to children and adults of all ages at all four clinic locations. Help raise awareness and understanding about communication disorders and the organizations that diagnose and treat them today.
