Our Story

Global Speech and Hearing Incorporated (GSHI) was developed by Michelle (Shelly) DiMartino-Odai after a visit to Ghana in 2022 where she was presenting on her work as a bilingual speech pathologist in the United States.  Many of the principals and educators  in the audience were eager to learn how to implement services such as identification and treatment of hearing impairments through universal hearing screenings, speech and language evaluations, phonological disorders, and other topics related to communication disorders. Shelly showed them various computer and iPad applications to utilize with students but left Ghana wanting to do more for this enthusiastic and motivated group of educators.

Upon her return to the U.S., Shelly spoke with other professionals in the speech pathology field as well as various representatives of local non-profits.  She started GSHI , an organization that would continue to grow the small seed that she had planted on her trip.  The goal evolved to encompass potential education and services through workshops  that could be brought not only to Ghana but to Shelly’s home city of Rochester and beyond.  

Our mission is to provide training in the areas of speech and language development, emphasize the importance of hearing health, and provide educational resources to areas that typically do not have access to services such as underserved communities in and around Rochester, NY as well as in Ghana, West Africa. GSHI has secured the donation of 8 audiometers (a machine that is used to measure hearing acuity) with the plan to use them for community events such as senior health fairs and/or Special Olympics for hearing screenings.  GSHI is currently working with local libraries to bring a series of community workshops related to speech-language development and best practices to promote strategies to use at home. GSHI anticipates partnering with local universities to support our local and international initiatives through student engagement. Additionally, GSHI has connected with several health care practitioners and educators to develop a program which will promote the establishment of universal hearing screenings within the public school system in Ghana, West Africa. 

Your donation would greatly contribute to further our mission of bringing educational workshops and resources both home and abroad.