Claire and her twin brother, Riley, were born at 24 weeks and weighed 1 lb 12 oz each. While in the NICU she contracted MRSA and received ototoxic antibiotics that saved her life but took her hearing. 

At 6 months old she was diagnosed with bilateral profound hearing loss. She has bilateral cochlear implants that she received at 1 and 2 years old. Claire attended the first class of the Alabama School for Hearing, now The Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE), in 2009. 

Attending WISE greatly helped further develop her speech and language to prepare her for attending kindergarten at a mainstream public school. When she started kindergarten her school appointed SLP received training by one of the LSLS/AVT’s from WISE to enable Claire to continue with the LSL Therapy she received at WISE. The entire staff at WISE was amazing and supportive during and after she attended the school. We are so grateful for them. 

Claire is now a sophomore in high school and an A student who loves art and baking. We are so glad Claire had the opportunity to attend WISE and feel it was key in her personal and educational successes. 

Ross & Jennifer White- Clarie’s parents