The San Antonio City Council A Session on May 8, 2025, commenced with a significant proclamation recognizing May as Sunshine Cottage Listening and Spoken Language Awareness Month. Mayor Ron Nirenberg welcomed representatives from Sunshine Cottage, a school dedicated to supporting deaf children through listening and spoken language education.

The proclamation highlighted the importance of National Speech Language Hearing Month, which aims to raise awareness about hearing and speech disorders. It celebrated the history and contributions of Sunshine Cottage, founded in 1947 by a mother determined to provide her deaf child with the opportunity to learn to listen and speak. Over the past 77 years, the institution has grown from seven students to a vital resource for families in San Antonio.

Sunshine Cottage has partnered with local educational institutions, including Trinity University and UT Health San Antonio, to develop a master’s program in deaf education. This initiative ensures the training of skilled professionals dedicated to teaching children who are deaf or hard of hearing. The organization also offers a parent-infant program that provides free services to families with children from birth to age three, fostering early development of listening and spoken language skills.

The proclamation noted that approximately 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 newborns are born with hearing loss, with over 90 percent of these children coming from hearing parents. This statistic underscores the critical role Sunshine Cottage plays in providing resources and support to affected families.

In conclusion, Mayor Nirenberg's proclamation not only recognized the impactful work of Sunshine Cottage but also emphasized the commitment of its staff and supporters to inclusivity and innovation in education. The month of May 2025 is officially designated as a time to raise awareness and celebrate the achievements of this essential organization in San Antonio.