New Families

Listen to Me! New Families

The Listen to Me!® Conference is an intensive three to five day training for the whole family, held annually. Our current conference locations include California (held each June), Ewa Beach, Oʻahu (held each fall), and Nakuru, Kenya (held each winter). Eighteen families are accepted and attend the conference together. Children participate in a listening and spoken language class setting and receive daily listening and spoken language therapy sessions. Parents participate in educational presentations, therapy and class observations, skill-building activities, and parent support groups.

Curriculum

Our curriculum was created by leaders in the field, including surgeons, audiologists, certified LSL specialists, and deaf and hard of hearing teachers—many of whom previously contributed through work developed at Stanford University.

Curriculum materials include:

Video demonstrations of Listening & Spoken Language strategies
Articles, handouts & online resources

Live & recorded presentations, including the following topics:
Cochlear Implantation & Future Directions
LSL Parenting Strategies
Growing Your Child's Auditory Brain
Special Education Law & Advocating for Your Child
Raising the Bar: High Expectations for High Achievement (Cochlear Implant Panel)

Sibling Camp

Siblings participate in a summer camp experience designed just for them, including crafts, games, and outdoor activities. We have two amazing and very experienced sibling camp coordinators who plan special theme days and make sure all ages are included and have fun. It is a great opportunity for siblings of children with hearing loss to connect with others who can relate to their experience.

Our Team

We are proud to have an extremely talented and experienced staff, who each have specialized training in hearing loss and the development of listening and spoken language. Our distinguished presenters are some of the leading experts in the field.

Read more about our team here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible?

• Child must be between 0 and 5 years old (must turn 6 after the conference)
• Hearing status: Child may have any degree of hearing loss and use any hearing technology to access sound, although priority will be given to cochlear implant users
• Family must reside in California (California conference) (although we are now accepting one out-of-state family per year) or Hawaii (Hawaii Conference) or Kenya (Kenya Conference)
• Family (including at least one parent/guardian) must commit to attending all days of the Listen to Me! Conference

How do I apply?

APPLY HERE

Online applications & payments are required.

The refundable application fee for Listen to Me! is $50. If your family is selected to attend the conference, this $50 will be credited toward your program fee. If you are not selected, your application fee will be refunded.

Please note that the application fee does not cover the full cost of attending.

Applications are accepted year-round. Families will be considered for the next available Listen to Me!® conference in their region. See our Applications & Flyers page for current application deadlines.

How much does it cost?

Families who are accepted are asked to contribute a sliding-scale program fee based on household income. We work closely with every family to ensure the program is affordable, and no family is ever turned away due to financial circumstances.

Program fees typically range from $50 to $2,000, depending on income and family circumstances.

If you have any questions about program fees or financial assistance, please reach out—our team is here to help every family access the program. For questions about this policy, please contact Danielle Bourque at danielle@bakerinstituteforchildren.org.

How are families selected?

The Listen to Me! Conference has a limited number of openings. We currently accept 18 families per year for each location. Priority is given to families in greatest need of resources, information, and/or access to intervention services. We do keep a waiting list.

When will I know if my family is selected?

Accepted families are notified by email approximately six weeks before the start of their scheduled conference.

After you receive your acceptance letter, you will be asked to submit your final registration fee, determined on a sliding scale based on household income. To confirm your family’s participation, payment must be received no later than two weeks prior to the start of the conference. If payment is not received by that time, we may need to offer your spot to another family.

What do I bring?

• Extra cords and batteries for your child's cochlear implant and/or hearing aids
• Casual, comfortable clothing for six days for you and your children (average temperature for this week in California is typically between 70 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit), light jackets may be necessary for evenings and mornings.
• Crib/playpen (if necessary)
• Small pillow and/or child blanket for children's nap time
• Toiletries: shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, etc...
• Stroller (if age-appropriate)
• Small fan (rooms are NOT air-conditioned)
• If your child has food allergies, please bring food that he or she will be able to eat.
• Otherwise, three meals a day will be provided. (Feel free to bring some snacks or other food if desired. You will have access to a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee maker, but a stove/oven will NOT be available.)
• Sunscreen for your children (for daily outdoor activities)
• Bathing suit and towel for siblings (water play activities)
• Paint shirt for siblings (arts and craft activities)
• Your child's three favorite toys (These will be used during therapy time to help teach you how to work on some of your child's goals by using his or her favorite toys.)
• Children's books, other toys or activities to entertain your children after program hours (in the evenings)
• Audio recorder (optional) to record classes, therapy, and presentations

What are the accommodations like?

• In California, most of the families stay together in one house, but each family sleeps in their own private room (or two neighboring rooms if family size is large).
• Rooms are simply furnished with twin beds, dressers, and desks.
• All bedrooms are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the house, with stair access.
• The house is not air-conditioned, but fans are provided in each room.
• Community bathrooms and showers are available on each floor.
• Catering provides three meals each day of attendance.
• Microwave, coffee maker, refrigerator, and freezer are available in the community kitchen.

What is a typical day at Listen to Me?

LTM Conference Onsite Daily Schedule Sample:

7:15-8:30 am
Breakfast

8:30-9:00 am
Welcome, morning music, children go to class

9:15-10:45 am
Educational presentation (based on daily topics: medical issues, speech & language development, IEPs & IFSPs, bilingualism, parenting/behavior management, expectations & outcomes)

11:00am-12:30pm
Participate in child's therapy session/Skill building videos & group learning

12:00-1:30 pm
Lunch

1:30-2:30 pm
Making It Real At Home (learn how to incorporate your child's goals into your home routines)

2:45-4:15 pm
Parent Support Group/Large Group Learning Session

4:30-5:30 pm
Free time

5:30-7:00 pm
Dinner

Click here for this year's schedule.