Courtesy of Hearing Our Way magazine
It only makes sense that St. Louis, a leader in the field of deaf education, would be home to the new teen and kid magazine Hearing Our Way (hearingourway.com). It is the typical teen magazine—celebrities, games, teen profiles— but it tailors its content to children with hearing loss. The celebrities share inspirational stories; the games focus on hearing and communication; and the profiles are all about relating to those with hearing loss. Melanie Paticoff, the magazine’s 25-year-old founder, wants Hearing Our Way to be as spunky as the typical teen magazine. But Paticoff’s mission is to direct that energy to kids who often can feel misunderstood or alone.
“We would like to be part of a trend of mainstreaming,” Paticoff says. “That means that the magazines will be part of the children’s home environment, thereby giving them a sense of community, even when they might be the only person experiencing serious hearing loss in their school environment.”
The magazine wants to help families and friends be more emphathic. “Being part of this community is something that these kids should be proud of and feel a connection to,” she says. “And hopefully, Hearing Our Way can help in that goal.”
