The Center for Hearing & Speech has been privileged to serve the communication needs of the St. Louis area for more than 105 years. We are grateful for your trust and support, which has allowed us to serve the community through our Audiology, Speech-Language, School Screenings, and Hearing Conservation programs.
And we are thrilled to share that, effective May 1, 2025, we have merged with Easterseals Midwest — an organization that shares our commitment to building a world where everyone has access to the communication services they need!
Like the Center, Easterseals Midwest has served the community for more than a century, currently addressing the needs of almost 7,500 individuals across Missouri as well as parts of Kansas and Illinois.
Our goal is that this partnership will exponentially expand our capacity to address the evolving needs of our community . . . and beyond! This merger will allow us to grow our essential communication services that make a profound difference in the lives of people we serve. There are many people in underserved communities locally, in addition to rural areas, towns, and cities across the Midwest, who need us, and we want to be there for them.
This merger is a bold move in pursuit of truly meeting the needs of people who otherwise would not be able to access essential communication services. We are uniquely qualified to help people connect to the world around them, and we are driven to grow our reach and fulfill our mission. We are so grateful for your continued trust and support.
To learn more about Easterseals, please visit their website at www.easterseals.com/midwest/ and check them out on social media!
I look forward to providing updates and the stories of the lives impacted by equitable, quality communication services.
Onward and upward—together,
Cathy Brown
Executive Director, Center for Hearing & Speech
Frequently Asked Questions:
Are you moving? Are you still going to provide the same services in the St. Louis area?
- Our clients can expect the same high-quality services at all our current locations that we’ve always provided. Our Audiology, Speech-Language Therapy, School Screening, and Hearing Conservation services will not miss a beat reaching those who need us.
Are you changing your name?
- We’re getting a slightly refreshed look! The Center for Hearing & Speech will keep our name and add the tagline “Powered by Easterseals” in our current service footprint.
Will the Center still exist??
- We are merging and will be one entity: Easterseals Midwest. Legally, the Center will be a department of Easterseals Midwest. We will operate under their federal EIN and integrate support departments like fundraising and finance.
Who will run the Center?
- You can expect to see the same names and faces. Cathy Brown will continue to serve as the Center’s Executive Director, and our team will be here ready to serve clients, patients, and supporters.
Will the Center and its services still need donations, grants and philanthropic support to provide low- or no-cost services to those who need it?
- YES! The resulting merged organization will continue to rely on the generosity of the community — more than ever, in fact — to provide critical communication services for people who cannot otherwise afford them. You can support access to our services by visiting our donation page.
