When Work is Fun
Work has always been a bright spot in my life, but especially lately—and one of the very brightest has been the privilege of getting to know and support Hear Indiana. Through my work at KHS Consulting, we’ve partnered together for the past three years, and somewhere along the way, it became more than just work.
An Eye-Opening Day at Camp
One of my favorite things about my job is that I often get to bring my kids along. They are naturally curious, and it’s a great way for them to meet people, gain perspective, and teach me a thing or two. A couple of summers ago, my oldest son and I had the privilege of attending Hear Indiana’s camp Family Day—and I had one of those small, surprising, this is bigger than I realized moments. As we walked into the crowd, I started recognizing faces. Neighbors. Colleagues. Cub Scout buddies. Fellow writers from Indianapolis Moms. In fact, I knew as many—or more—people there as the staff did (which we now often laugh about).
And then, in that mix of familiar faces, I reconnected with Molly—a colleague, a writer, and a mom navigating hearing loss with her daughter. Being there, in that space, it all clicked. This wasn’t just a non-profit, an “agency.” This was a community.
Hearing Loss by the Numbers
Because here’s the thing: hearing loss is far more common than most of us realize. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, more than 50 million Americans—about one in seven—experience some degree of hearing loss. Globally, that number reaches 1.5 billion people. It’s not rare. It’s not niche. It’s likely already part of your world.
Which is exactly why organizations like Hear Indiana matter so much. Through camps, therapy, school support, technology guidance, and family programming, they’re not just offering services—they’re creating spaces where kids feel confident, parents feel capable, and families feel understood.
Molly’s story
Any parent with a child who has special needs will attest to how important their team is – and Hear Indiana is a part of ours, especially as our daughter has gotten older.
My favorite thing about Hear Indiana is that they offer a week-long camp for middle-elementary school through high school kids, and it is one of the highlights of our daughter’s year as well. For our daughter, she gets to spend a week at camp riding horses, swimming, doing crafts, and just having a lot of fun. For us, we’re with our people who just get it – other kids, other parents, the staff – and that’s a sigh of relief.
Why is it such a relief? When you have a child with special needs, it often comes with extra stuff. For some, that might be mobility equipment, a communication device, or feeding equipment. For us, it’s cochlear implant equipment: back-up processors, waterproofing kits, and battery chargers. While our daughter is old enough to manage most of her equipment, there still needs to be some adult oversight. Managing the equipment is old school to us; we do it every day, and it’s not a big deal (anymore). But trying to explain deafness and cochlear implant equipment to someone who isn’t used to them is a different story. I see on their faces how overwhelming and confusing it can be. But with Hear Indiana’s camp, what technology doesn’t get set up in our daughter’s cabin gets handed over in a bag, no instructions needed, and we pick it right back up in a week.
When you’re raising a child with extra needs, moments like that feel like a gift.
And it’s a reminder that no family should have to navigate these things alone — whether it’s the special needs diagnosis itself, the ongoing medical appointments, or even something as
simple as summer camp. For us, Hear Indiana has become part of the team that makes life a little easier and a lot more joyful for our daughter. If you’re a parent on a similar journey, I hope you find the people and organizations who understand your world the way Hear Indiana understands ours. And if you’re looking for a place where your support can make a real difference for kids like ours, Hear Indiana is one of them.
If Molly’s story shows what support feels like on the inside, this is what it looks like in action on the outside.
Right now, two of the most meaningful ways to plug in are also the most timely.
How YOU Can Help and Have FUN!
Trivia Night is one of those rare events that manages to be equal parts fun and functional. It’s a chance to gather your smartest (or most competitive) friends, claim a table, and enjoy a night that directly fuels access to services, technology, and programming for kids across Indiana. It’s easy to show up, easy to invite others into, and the impact is immediate.
At the same time, Hear Indiana’s Amplifiers program offers something just as powerful in a different way. Amplifiers are monthly supporters who provide steady, reliable funding that families and programs can count on. It’s not flashy—but it’s foundational. Even a small monthly gift helps sustain therapy services, support technology access, and ensure programs like camp and parent support nights continue to exist and grow.
Together, these two opportunities—one a single night out, the other an ongoing commitment—create both momentum and stability for the organization.
A Community That Shows Up Year-Round
Beyond these, Hear Indiana continues to show up for families in ways that extend far past a single season. From summer camp that builds independence and belonging, to a conference that connects families with resources and experts, to adult services that support lifelong communication and confidence, their work is layered, thoughtful, and enduring.
There is no one-size-fits-all way to get involved—and that’s the point. Whether you attend Trivia Night, become an Amplifier, celebrate World Hearing Day, or simply share their mission with someone who needs it, there are meaningful ways to make a difference year-round.
Why It Matters
Because when a community consistently shows up for kids and families navigating hearing loss, the impact is lasting. And the future doesn’t just sound brighter—it becomes more connected, more confident, and more possible for everyone.
