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The Whole Family Project

This Holiday Season, Give the Gift of Communication

For families raising a child who is deaf, hard of hearing, or nonverbal, communication isn’t guaranteed, it’s something they must fight to build. Since 1999, The Whole Family Project has walked beside these families, empowering them to connect, bond, and thrive through sign language.

This holiday season, we’re inviting our Kansas City community to help us continue this life-changing work.

You can make a one-time donation or a monthly recurring donation online by clicking the button below.

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Why Your Support Matters

Your donation directly supports one-on-one sign language instruction for families with children from birth to age 12 who are navigating hearing or speech disabilities, including Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Apraxia, and more.

When a child can’t easily express their wants, needs, or feelings, everyday moments become overwhelming for them and their family. The Whole Family Project bridges that gap by giving families the tools to communicate with confidence and compassion.

Fact #1

3 in 1,000

Across Missouri, roughly 3 in 1,000 newborns enter the world with permanent hearing loss.

Fact #2

600,000

Hearing loss isn’t rare, nearly 600,000 Missourians live with it.

Fact #3

15%

Hearing loss incidence in kids (ages 6–19) is around 15% in certain school populations.

Fact #4

90%

Around 90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents. 

Sponsor a Tutoring Session

Your support directly funds real instruction for real families.

A $50 donation may seem small, but for our families, it’s transformative. It can cover over two hours of instruction and preparation, helping tutors bring sign language directly into a child’s home, sometimes driving 80 miles round-trip just to ensure that family has the support they need.

Testimonial

“This service truly brings tears to our eyes. Without The Whole Family Project, we would still be struggling to communicate with our daughter through sign-language videos alone. Steven was a joy to work with and always went above and beyond. He made personalized videos each time, giving our child new words to learn and helping her grow.”

L. P.
A Whole Family Program Participant

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Testimonial

“I like how willing your team is to help those in need within The Whole Family Project. It's a well-crafted program that helps families learn ASL. After going through this service, we are much quicker at understanding our daughter, and she gets less frustrated now that we can understand her. I would 100% recommend The Whole Family Project to another family needing assistance with communication and learning ASL.”

S. G.
A Whole Family Program Participant

Led by a Legacy of Deaf Education and Advocacy

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About Micki

Meet Your Organizer

The program is guided by Michele “Micki” Keck, a fourth-generation Deaf individual who brings deep roots in Kansas City’s Deaf community and over 25 years of experience teaching ASL and Deaf Studies.

Raised in a mixed Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and hearing family, Micki understands firsthand the transformative power of accessible communication.

Her passion, expertise, and dedication are woven into every lesson and every family we serve.

Give Today

Your Donation Changes Lives

A gift today helps a child sign “I love you” to their parents for the very first time. It helps siblings share stories. It helps families laugh together, learn together, and understand one another in ways they never thought possible.

Please consider donating this holiday season. Your generosity helps Kansas City families build the connections every child deserves.

You’re not just giving money—You’re giving communication, connection, and hope.

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The Whole Person is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.