Promotes the use of spoken language by children and adults with hearing loss. Members include parents of children with hearing loss, adults who are deaf or hard of hearing, educators, audiologists, speech-language pathologists, physicians, and other professionals in fields related to hearing loss and deafness. Services include advocacy, information and referral, biennial convention, financial aid and scholarships, leadership programs for teens and college students, mentoring programs for adolescents, and publication of information on deafness and spoken language. Other programs include: Bell's Kids a mentoring program for children ages 8-12 and adults with hearing loss Educational Advocacy Initiative an initiative whose aim is to ensure that families have a choice when selecting an educational program for their child who is deaf or heard of hearing Online Chats which hosts online chats on a variety of issues pertaining to hearing loss Public School Caucus Assistance Project which assists school districts in establishing auditory/oral programs and/or strengthening existing auditory/oral programs Leadership Enrichment Adventure Program (LEAP) a preeminent program for college students with hearing loss Leadership Opportunities For Teens (LOFT) a preeminent program for high school students with hearing loss and Cyber Mentoring where members are invited to participate in this unique opportunity to directly enhance the training of teachers in the field of education for the deaf and hard of hearing.