How we became WISE
WISE HistoryA Tradition of Excellence
For over a decade, we have provided a language and literacy rich environment for young children with hearing loss. Hundreds of children have learned to listen and speak through the specialized programs provided at WISE.
A Bright Future
In recent years with the help of generous donors, we have expanded our programs to include children from infancy to adulthood. Our first students are entering a new phase of their lives, graduating from high school with the confidence spoken language provides.
Our History
While our school has been helping children for over a decade now, our WISE leaders have been professional partners for many more years. Our WISE Director, Nancy Gregg, LSLS/Cert. AVT, was the director of Children’s Center for Hearing Impaired (now known as the Children’s HEAR Center) when Dr. Audie Woolley joined the Pediatric department of Otolaryngology at Children’s Hospital in 1995. The successful growth of the program at Children’s led to the recognition of the need for a preschool program tailored for the families that were using listening and spoken language.
In a collaborative effort between Children’s Hospital of AL and The Alabama Ear Institute (AEI), Nancy Gregg along with a fellow LSLS/Cert. AVT and WISE board member, Natalie Baldwin, began the development of this special program in 2008. The WISE preschool was launched as a pilot program in the summer of 2009 under the name the Alabama School for Hearing. WISE Board member Beverly Hunter King served as the school administrator with direction from Harry Wooten, former Vice President of the AEI.
The tuition free program was extremely popular with the families as they saw the preschool as a place where their children could reach even greater heights in auditory, speech and language development. Students were immersed in a language and literacy rich environment, led by Listening and Spoken Language Specialists who intentionally planned every part of the student’s day. Every interaction was designed to provide opportunities for the children to build a strong listening, language, and educational foundation.
It is hard to believe that the first group of children is now nearing the age of high school graduation! Several of our inaugural class member’s parents now serve as members of the WISE Board of Directors.
In 2018, our founding board president, Dr. Robert Baldwin, asked Dr. Audie Woolley to consider taking on the responsibility of Board president upon his impending retirement. Dr. Woolley had served as a board member for many years and was known throughout the state for his ability to bring hundreds of children to the world of sound through cochlear implantation.
Quickly after his tenure as president began, Dr. Woolley began to recruit Nancy Gregg, LSLS Cert. AVT to formally lead the school as director and oversee the rebranding and expansion of our school. After a 30-year career at Children’s Hospital Nancy became the Director of WISE.
In a few short years WISE has grown exponentially with introduction of seven new programs, now reaching families across the state through our early intervention therapy program and most recently with teletherapy.
A Timeline of WISE
1991
- Founded: Established by Dr. Robert L. Baldwin as the Birmingham Ear Institute.
1997
Philanthropic Gift: The Joe Bruno family provided a generous gift to fund operations, hire full-time staff, and open an office.
1998-1999
- Newborn Screening Initiative: Identified the need for newborn hearing screenings in Alabama hospitals.
- State Partnership: Partnered with Alabama State Department of Health and other organizations to implement the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program.
2000
- Renamed: Became the Alabama Ear Institute (AEI).
- Federal Grant: Received $726,000 to fund four years of the Universal Newborn Hearing Screening program.
- Parent Support: Launched the Parent-2-Parent (P2P) peer support program.
2001–2002
-
- Universal Newborn Hearing Screening (UNHS): Officially began statewide.
- Recognition: Alabama’s UNHS program named among the top 10 in the U.S.
- Continuing Education: Began training professionals in Auditory-Verbal Therapy.
2003–2005
-
- CDC Grant: Funded the Auditory-Verbal Mentoring Program, a pioneering initiative to certify specialists.
- Outreach Programs: Introduced initiatives like “Poison Noises” and the “Every Kid Counts” program.
- Exhibit: “Poison Noises” became a permanent exhibit at the McWane Science Center.
2008–2009
- Alabama School for Hearing: Formed in partnership with Children’s Hospital, offering Auditory-Oral preschool education.
- Advocacy Success: Partnered with state agencies to redefine educational standards for Teachers of the Deaf.
2015–2016
-
- Teletherapy Launch: Introduced telecommunication technology for therapy and mentoring.
- Recognition as a Model: Inspired similar programs like “Little Listeners” in Tennessee.
2017–2018
- Merging Entities: AEI officially merged with the Alabama School for Hearing to streamline operations.
- Renamed WISE: Transitioned to the Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education.
- Expanded Services: Opened a Toddler Preschool Program and initiated a Parent Support group.
2019–2021
- Early Intervention Services: Partnered with Alabama Department of Rehabilitation for broader services.
- Pandemic Adaptations: Introduced teletherapy, music therapy, and expanded classrooms.
- Growth Milestones: Opened locations in Huntsville and Mobile, hired additional specialists, and launched a mobile audiology unit (MARKS).
2022
- New Facilities: Opened a new location at 400 Corporate Parkway.
- Geographic Expansion: Added programs in Boaz and East Alabama.
- Educational Audiology: Introduced an audiology program for schools.
2023
- Innovative Programs:
- Began cochlear implant programming.
- Partnered with the Alabama Department of Public Health for follow-ups on newborn hearing screenings.
- Launched hearing screenings in daycare centers and schools.
- New Grants: Received $75,000 each for mobile unit operations and family respite care.
- Presentations: Delivered at the Alabama Early Intervention Conference.
Tuition Free Programs
New Friends for life
Life Changing Results
Loving and Caring Staff
Get In Touch
Location:
400 Corporate Parkway
Birmingham, Alabama 35242
Telephone: (205) 728-5480
Email: [email protected]
The Woolley Institute for Spoken-Language Education (WISE), is a 501 © not for profit organization dedicated to teaching deaf children to speak. We are a statewide, family focused program working in collaboration with Alabama’s Early Intervention System, local school systems, and private and public entities which advance the education of deaf children who use listening and spoken language.