Scott Bieler Family Foundation Early Childhood Learning Suite Opens at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center

Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center (BHSC) hosted a dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 9:45 a.m. to celebrate the opening of a new classroom wing at its North Street Campus, made possible through a generous gift from the Scott Bieler Family Foundation. The wing was formally dedicated as The Scott Bieler Family Foundation Early Childhood Learning Suite.

The newly constructed wing includes four modern classrooms specifically designed to support early education and treatment for neurodivergent children, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Each classroom will serve six students, allowing BHSC to expand its current school capacity and services by 24 additional children—students who would otherwise be among the more than 400 children still on a waiting list for critical services.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1 in 31 children in the United States has been identified with ASD, underscoring the growing need for early intervention and specialized education programs.

Scott Bieler, President and CEO of West Herr Auto Group and his wife Kathy, founders of the Scott Bieler Family Foundation, expressed their motivation for supporting the project. Mr. Bieler commented, “Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center does incredible work to serve some of our community’s most vulnerable children. When we learned how many families were waiting for services, we knew we had to help. Supporting the development of modern classrooms tailored for children with special needs is one way we can make a lasting difference in their lives and futures. Our foundation is committed to ensuring that every child in Western New York has access to the education and support they deserve.”

The expansion project transformed approximately 25% of the second floor of the North Street Campus into custom-designed, sensory-friendly learning and therapy spaces. Construction lasted roughly six months.

Joseph Cozzo, President and CEO of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center, commented, “We are profoundly grateful to the Scott Bieler Family Foundation for this transformative gift. These new classrooms not only provide an ideal learning environment for children with special needs, but they also offer renewed hope to families who have been waiting for help. This expansion is about more than space—it’s about possibility, progress, and a better future for the children we serve.”