In-Person: Foundations for Families

BC Family Hearing Resource Society is the largest not-for-profit organization in British Columbia serving children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing, aged birth to school-entry. For 35 years, we have been providing intervention, support, education, sign language instruction and peer-to-peer mentoring to families throughout the province. Our services are evidence based, non-biased and delivered by an experienced and professional team.

Family-centred care is a core principle in our organization, and we work in partnership with families and community partners to provide quality intervention services appropriate for each individual child and family. Parents, siblings and extended family members are invited to participate and engage in our services to ensure that everyone is working together for the success of their child who is deaf or hard-of-hearing.  Our goal is to ensure the best outcomes for our clients.

Founded in 1982 as the BC Elks Auditory Rehabilitation Centre, we began with only five families and three part-time staff.  Within six short years, the staff were consulting and training other professionals; providing outreach programs throughout the province and had published the first edition of “My Turn to Learn”, a guidebook for parents of children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.  This was all in addition to building a solid foundation as an Early Intervention Centre for these same families.

In June of 1994, our name changed to the BC Family Hearing Resource Society.  And in 2003, we moved to our main Centre’s current location in Surrey.  This purpose-built building was the result of a significant four-year building campaign spearheaded by some very determined volunteers, staff and parents.  Since that time, we have continued to grow in all areas, including the addition of Telehealth services, the establishment of research affiliations with local Universities and the opening of two additional Satellite Centres.

We believe that communication, in any mode, is key.  Being able to communicate ones needs, desires, feelings, opinions and ideas are the cornerstone of a healthy and fulfilling life.  Hearing loss/deafness can impact infant’s and children’s ability to communicate; subsequently negatively affecting other important areas of development.  Early Intervention can minimize, and in some cases, negate these impacts.

Today, we are the only BC agency to offer a wide variety of communication options to families. We believe strongly in informed choice for every family.  These choices span a comprehensive range, from spoken language to ASL (American Sign Language). Together with our team, families develop a plan to ensure every child’s communication potential is maximized.

BC Family Hearing Resource Society (BCFHRS) is the name of our organization. BC Family Hearing Resource Centre (BCFHRC) is the name of our provincial program serving children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.

Our Mission

The BC Family Hearing Resource Society strives to help every child reach his or her fullest communication potential. We provide family-centered services** beginning as early in the child’s life as possible and are committed to individual choices.

• The BC Family Hearing Resource Centre offers support and resources throughout British Columbia to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, their families and community service providers.

• The Surrey Early Speech and Language Program offers services to families with children who have speech and language learning challenges and live in the local community.

Our Vision

To be an internationally recognized Centre of Excellence in providing support and services to children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing and their families, a pioneer in the use of technology, and a training and research centre for professionals in the field.