WHO WE ARE

Mission

The mission of the Holley Institute is to provide life-enhancing programs for those experiencing hearing loss, vision loss or deafness. We also provide programs for parents with children with hearing loss, vision loss or deafness. We screen all infants for hearing loss and provide outreach programs and services and education relating to hearing loss for the community at large.

Vision

Creating new worlds for children with hearing loss, vision loss and deafness.

Values

Service to those in need

 Reverence

Compassion

Integrity

Creativity and innovation

 Forward thinking

 Dedication

Education

OUR STORY

The Holley Institute was established in 1993 in response to a growing need for better early hearing detection and family support. At that time, newborn hearing screenings were not yet universal, meaning that while some babies were tested for hearing loss, many were not. As a result, families often did not learn that their child was Deaf or Hard of Hearing until months or even years later. A dedicated committee at Ascension Hospital recognized this gap and formed The Holley Institute to ensure that all newborns received hearing screenings and that families were given the information and resources they needed as early as possible. That work continues today at Henry Ford St. John Hospital, where trained volunteers screen approximately 3,500 infants each year.

As more families began learning about their child’s hearing loss, it became clear that they also needed guidance and community support. In 1996, The Holley Institute - a nonprofit 501(c)3 expanded its mission and opened Holley Family Village in Brooklyn, Michigan — a 214-acre lakeside campus designed as a welcoming place for families to gather, learn, and connect. The Village was created to support families of Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing children through education, language, and connection. Parents and children participate in immersive, language-rich programs where they can strengthen communication, build relationships, and grow together as a family.

Today, The Holley Institute continues this important work through a variety of programs, including Family Weeks, Family Literacy Weekends, ASL classes, ASL Immersion Week, Volunteer Week, and the Community Health and Literacy Program (CHLP). For more than 30 years, The Holley Institute has remained dedicated to empowering families through education, connection, and language access—building a world where Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind individuals and their loved ones are seen, supported, and celebrated.