In 2023, the Board of Trustees approved a strategic plan driven by a set of visionary goals and bold actions to grow the Foundation’s impact and pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive future for children and their families.
This plan charts that future and positions the Oberkotter Foundation to have transformative impact by driving science and innovation, spearheading groundbreaking technologies, influencing hearing healthcare practices and fostering collaborations to improve pediatric audiology outcomes and enhance the development of Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) and literacy skills for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
These five goals will guide priorities, adding clarity and depth to the Oberkotter Foundation’s mission, vision, and strategic direction.
Advance science and innovation to improve audiological, Listening and Spoken Language (LSL), and literacy outcomes for children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Raise broad awareness of newborn hearing screening, the importance of hearing to brain development, and that babies who are deaf or hard of hearing are learning to listen and talk.
Increase nationwide access to hearing technology, coordinated pediatric audiology and Listening and Spoken Language (LSL) services, and family support.
Expand the knowledge, skills, and connections among families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing and the professionals who support them.
Exercise national leadership as an exemplary foundation.
Bold action is critical to advancing solutions that will change practice. The Oberkotter Foundation will support the development and widespread adoption of groundbreaking technologies and scalable solutions that address barriers to care and equitable delivery of pediatric audiology services.
Documenting known core science that connects hearing to brain development, spoken language, and literacy, and identifying the gaps that merit additional scientific research.
Developing science-related communications and publications.
Accelerating the development and adoption of groundbreaking technologies and solutions.
Hearing is essential to a baby’s typical brain development and early screening is a crucial step to identify children who need early intervention to develop skills that will help them thrive. The Oberkotter Foundation strives to shift societal perceptions and responses towards childhood hearing loss.
Continue and enhance the Starts Hear National Awareness Campaign reaching more expectant parents of diverse backgrounds.
Continue collaborative relationships with current and future partners to advance awareness, education, and access.
Increase awareness and understanding that babies who are deaf or hard of hearing are learning to listen and talk.
Families of babies who fail the newborn hearing screening or are identified with hearing loss need immediate support and resources to help them on their LSL journey. The Oberkotter Foundation aims to provide guidance, education, and resources to support families regardless of where they live in the United States.
Connect and engage families of children who fail the newborn hearing screening and/or are identified with hearing loss to immediate support, resources, education, and tools for the LSL journey.
Support initiatives through cooperative partnerships to expand access to quality pediatric audiology and LSL early intervention services.
Seeing her respond to us for the first time with hearing aids put the life back in me.
Kori, Corlena's Dad
The Oberkotter Foundation is a leader in providing educational resources for families and professionals to help children with hearing loss have the same listening, spoken language, and literacy opportunities as their hearing friends.
Improve knowledge and skills of families and the professionals who provide pediatric audiology, LSL, and related services to children who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Facilitate family-to-family connections to promote support, learning, and wellbeing.
Expand the professional learning community to improve LSL outcomes.
Continually produce, optimize, and distribute high-quality multimedia resources using innovative delivery methods to educate and guide families and professionals.
The Trustees and staff of the Oberkotter Foundation take their responsibilities seriously, and pledge to pursue the Foundation's mission consistent with best practices.
Upholding philanthropic best practices and fiduciary responsibilities.
Promoting responsiveness, transparency, and equity in its work and engagement with collaborators, educators, professionals, and families.
Maintaining and cultivating a healthy, cohesive, supportive team culture, and embracing innovation and change.
The Foundation is steadfast in our commitment as the stewards of the Oberkotter family’s vision for the future of childhood hearing loss—a future where children who are deaf or hard of hearing are learning to listen, talk, and reach their full potential. The strategic plan reflects the structures and programs designed to implement the objectives that will grow the Foundation's impact in new, innovative ways.