The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) announced its global expansion with the launch of Alexander Graham Bell International (AG Bell International) in Madrid, Spain, the first-ever expansion of the 126-year-old nonprofit organization. AG Bell acquired Spanish organizations CLAVE and Fundación Oír Es Clave (Hearing is Key Foundation), which now comprise Alexander Graham Bell International. Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, best known for inventing the telephone, launched the original nonprofit organization in the 1890s to assist those with hearing loss.

This week, AG Bell Chief Executive Officer Emilio Alonso-Mendozaarrived in Spain to meet new staff and to launch AG Bell International in Madrid.

“We are very pleased to launch AG Bell International in Spain and look forward to a new future as we work to improve the lives of children who are deaf and hard of hearing so that they can live a life without limits,” said Emilio Alonso-Mendoza, CEO of AG Bell. “For nearly ten years, CLAVE has followed AG Bell’s vision and model throughout Spain and Latin America very effectively. We see this acquisition as the perfect opportunity to reach Spanish speakers with hearing loss and the professionals who serve them, not only in Spain but throughout all Spanish-speaking populations, including those in the United States.”

AG Bell International will also be the European headquarters, connecting the United States, Europe and the world. The new office in Spain is an extension of the current organization, which advocates on behalf of those with hearing loss and the speech and hearing professionals who serve them. It also serves as a resource for families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing, provides scholarships to children with hearing loss, and certifies Listening and Spoken Language professionals through its Academy.

AG Bell International will continue the work of CLAVE, which is based in the United Kingdom. Since 2008, CLAVE has provided training and programs for hearing and speech professionals and has contributed to their career development in audiology, speech therapy and early intervention programs under agreements with Spanish institutions and universities. Similar to AG Bell, CLAVE raises awareness and promotes measures to improve accessibility for those with hearing loss.

About the Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (AG Bell) helps families, health care providers and education professionals understand childhood hearing loss and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention. Through advocacy, education and financial aid, AG Bell helps to ensure that every child and adult with hearing loss has the opportunity to listen, talk and thrive. With chapters located in the United States and a network of international affiliates, AG Bell supports its mission: Advancing Listening and Spoken Language for Individuals Who Are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. AG Bell comprises a staff of 30 at the historic Volta Bureau in Washington, D.C. and in Madrid, Spain. For more information, please visit agbell.org.

SOURCE: Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing.

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