Baby Riya Shines in Clarke’s Birth to Agree Three Program 

Riya’s Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) journey began at just five weeks old, when she was diagnosed with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss—an overwhelming situation for Riya’s parents.

Riya began attending Clarke’s Birth to Age Three Program at three months old, where her family found support and the expertise needed to navigate this new chapter of their lives. “The dedicated teachers of the deaf at Clarke have been instrumental in Riya’s development,” says Shubhi, Riya’s mother. “Their warmth and commitment are evident in every session, helping Riya acquire the skills necessary for her speech development.”

Riya was three months old in March 2024 when a Clarke audiologist fitted her with hearing aids. By six months old, Riya was already mimicking the “aaa” sound, marking a significant milestone in her LSL journey. This past fall, Riya took another important step by receiving cochlear implants to maximize her access to sound.

Shubhi expresses deep gratitude for Clarke’s support: “We feel well supported and taken care of. Clarke has connected us with parents who have been, or are on, a similar journey, which has helped us tremendously. Clarke feels like family, and we are beyond grateful for everything they do for students and their families.”