On Monday, March 19th, 2018, Melissa Tumblin, Founder and Executive Director of the Ear Community Organization, was awarded the 2018 Family Leadership Award for EHDI Excellence in Denver, Colorado.
Melissa Tumblin is an advocate for promoting educational and public awareness about Microtia/Atresia (M/A) and hearing loss as prompted by her daughter’s condition. She is an influential community leader, providing people with support and connection. Her contributions have led to overall improvement of the EHDI service system.
Due to Melissa’s contributions to the M/A community, those who are affected by these conditions know of the options available to make the best decisions regarding child care, early intervention, and other services. Melissa founded the largest global support group on Facebook for families affect by M/A and founded the Ear Community, a non-profit devoted to empowering families as they advocate for the needs of their children with M/A. In addition, Melissa worked tirelessly to get November 9th as a day to raise awareness and support for M/A. Melissa has worked to help bridge the gap between those with M/A and medical professionals. To this end, she is a co-investigator, along with researchers from Harvard and Vanderbilt, on a research grant for studying genetic factors in M/A. Melissa also works with early interventionists to help them understand what technologies are available to help children with M/A.
Melissa provides astonishing support to those with deaf or hard of hearing children. Melissa has served as a member of the Board of Directors of Hands & Voices in Colorado and of the Family Advisory Council for the D/HH group at Children’s Hospital. She is an active member in IEP meetings, helping families through the process of enrolling their children in educational settings where they are most likely to succeeded.
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2017 was the inaugural year for the EHDI Family Leadership Award. During the last several decades it has become increasingly clear that EHDI only exists to improve the well-being of babies and families. Symbiotically, engaged families are central to the success of EHDI programs and more specifically to the success of children who are deaf or hard of hearing.This award honors a parent or family member of a child who is deaf or hard of hearing for providing exemplary leadership in their state EHDI system and whose leadership has led to improved outcomes. The recipient was selected by NCHAM’s Family Advisory Committee.- The EHDI Organization
Dr. Karl White
www.ehdimeeting.org
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- Melissa Tumblin of Ear Community at the Ear Community booth during the 2018 EHDI meeting held in Denver, CO.
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- Melissa Tumblin of the Ear Community Organization is awarded the 2018 Family Leadership Award for EHDI Excellence by Dr. Karl White.
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- Dr. Robert Cicco with Melissa Tumblin, both accepting their awards.
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- Melissa Tumblin with Dr. Karl White at the 2018 EHDI Meeting in Denver, CO.
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- The 2018 EHDI Meeting awards ceremony in Denver, CO.
About Melissa Tumblin
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