GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jenny Geiken and Hand-N-Hand of Northeastern Wisconsin positively impacts deaf and hard-of-hearing children, and their parents.
“We’re one of two organizations in the state that offer opportunities for families and children to meet,” said Geiken.
Geiken founded the nonprofit program 22 years ago, which was inspired by a community that helped her navigate her own son’s brain condition. The organization focuses on children from birth to school age.
She said that there wasn’t much available for deaf and hard-of-hearing children back then, and parents didn’t know where to turn.
“They’re scared,” said Geiken. “Ninety percent of the children are born to families who don’t have hearing loss. So a family gets a diagnosis for their child and often they don’t know what to do. Hand-N-Hand offers that opportunity for families to come here and meet other families, talk, take classes and let kids see other kids.”
Josh Griesbach and his wife found Hand-N-Hand after they learned their daughter Ava was hard of hearing. He said it was initially shocking and scary but called Geiken a saint.
“You’re just trying to be a good parent, and then you find out that there’s this special need that your child has,” explained Griesbach. “But finding this program has been so huge for us, and because of this, she has a great future and can do anything any other kid her age can do.”
Gieken said about 110 babies are born in the state with major hearing issues. She’s observed improvements in hearing technology and detection methods over the years.
“Now babies are being identified before they leave the hospital with hearing loss, with newborn hearing screening. And if you find out your child is deaf, you go. They may think, what do I do? And they can call me,” said Geiken.
Geiken’s animated teaching style resonates with her young students. She also relies on volunteer help, including a former student, Ashley Petrina, who joined the program when she was just a baby.
“I have bilateral cochlear implants,” said Petrina. “So I’m profoundly deaf.”
Petrina fondly remembered her time with the organization as a child and started volunteering with Hand-N-Hand three years ago.
“It was just such a monumental program for me as a kid so I wanted to give back to it,” said Petrina. “Seeing all these kids like me when I was younger, it just really motivated me to come back and give back to them.”
Geiken also offers resources for siblings who want to learn sign language.
“We appreciate all that she has done. It means a lot to us as parents, and I know other families as well,” said Griesbach.
Some students are children of deaf adults, learning to communicate better with their parents or loved ones.
“She’s an amazing person and is undoubtedly deserving of everything good in life. It’s inspiring to me just how much she does for our community. It’s awesome,” said Petrina.
Petrina will be off to college next year, and her story is a shining example of what the Hand-N-Hand program can help accomplish.