Our May 13, 2025 newsletter
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Why You Should Attend the HLAA Convention This Summer
Can the HLAA convention turn your life around?
Indeed it can, says hearing loss advocate and HOPE leader Kimberly Parker.
You Gave BIG, and We Thank You!
We exceeded our GiveBIG record this year, thanks to all of you! We raised almost $10,000, including a generous matching gift from our president, Cheri Perazzoli.
If you haven’t yet donated, for another week, you still can donate and your donation will still be matched in honor of May Is Better Hearing Month.
Our deepest gratitude to everyone who opened their hearts this year. As an all-volunteer organization, we can’t do what we do without you!
Save the Date for Our Community Picnic
You’re invited to our community picnic on July 12, 2025, at Lake Boren Park in Newcastle, just outside of Bellevue.
Stay tuned for more details.
Our Annual Meeting Was the Best One Yet
Our 2025 Annual Community Meeting on April 26 was an excellent event with great engagement from people representing different perspectives of the hearing loss community.
We are busy pulling together photos, attendee quotes, and videos. We look forward to sharing all of this in a blog post soon. As one attendee said, “Best annual meeting yet!”
Caregiver Coffee Event Explores Caregiving While Navigating a Hearing Loss
Caregiving can be a heart-fulfilling job, but it does have its challenges. What about when you’re caring for someone with a hearing loss, or you have a hearing loss yourself as a caregiver?
We were honored to participate in a Caregiver Coffee event last week. Read more here.
Seattle Rep Announces 2025-2026 Season
Subscriptions are now on sale for the Seattle Rep’s 2025-2026 season. The season includes The Play that Goes Wrong, Fancy Dancer, and Come from Away.
The Rep is one of the most hearing-friendly theaters in the country. Loops are available in all theaters, ticket windows, concierge, and concessions. Each show has one OC performance and one ASL performance. We encourage you to support this terrific organization.
Come See Us at the Burien Community Center
As part of our outreach, we’ll be in Burien on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. We’re presenting, plus we have a booth. Come say hi, ask questions, and grab some helpful handouts.
Workshop: Effective Communication Strategies for People with Hearing Loss
You’re invited to a workshop with longtime hearing loss advocate Dean Olson on May 15, 2025, at 1pm at the Edmonds Waterfront Center. Here’s the flyer for more information.
Sign up here: Edmonds Waterfront Center | Connecting & Enriching Our Community
The John Waldo Bill Is Headed to the Governor!
The open-caption bill, SB 5486, passed both chambers of the Washington State Legislature and is now on Governor Ferguson’s desk. Fantastic news!
Beginning January 1, 2026, many movie theaters will be required to have more open-captioned shows and more OC shows at peak times. More details on the bill are coming soon to our blog.
Thank you to all who helped get this bill passed!
National Hearing Loss News
Action Alert: Voice Your Support for Infant Hearing Screenings
The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act (EHDI) is in danger of losing funding. This crucial program has helped improve hearing screening rates for infants, increasing early intervention and treatment. Without this federal funding, states may not be able to afford the program, and babies may go undiagnosed.
More on the Emotional Impact of Hearing Loss in the Latest Hearing Life Magazine
More and more, people are speaking out about the emotional impacts of their hearing loss.
The latest issue of Hearing Life magazine looks at how hearing loss can affect our identity, confidence, sense of connection. It also gives tips on how we can become “hearing empowered.”
Read the digital version of the magazine, or email us (info@hearingloss-wa.org) and we’ll send you a print version. This is the issue we had available at our annual meeting.
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
Hearing Loops and WiFi Together at the UK Pavillion
Here’s a good example of how two assistive listening systems can co-exist: At the UK Pavillion, Listen Technologies is providing hearing loops and their audio-over-WiFi system called ListenWIFI.
For the ListenWIFI system, listeners download a free app to their smartphone, then listen via earbuds, headphones, or Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids and CIs.
Any new assistive listening system can — and should —overlap with hearing loops, at least for many years.
Thank you, Listen Technologies, for creating an inclusive, hearing-friendly space.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings & Hearing-Friendly Events
Get In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss
- May 17, 2025, Bellingham: HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter monthly meeting. This month’s theme is “Dear Abby: Sharing Our Communication Problems and Solutions.” This chapter meets the third Saturday of the month, 9:30 – Noon, at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped and free.
- June 13, 2025, Renton: Our in-person monthly support group meets the second Friday of the month at 1pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North. The June meeting will not be looped, as the looped room is booked for a different event. The group will not meet in July or August, so we warmly encourage you to join us at our picnic on July 12, 2025.
Virtual Hearing Loss Support Meeting
HOPE: June 4, 2025
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate HOPE Crew, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and to their friends and family.
HOPE meets the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm. Please note: We will not meet in July or August. This June meeting will be our last until fall, so come see us at our picnic on July 12, 2025.
Toastmasters Online for People with Hearing Loss
Need a boost in confidence? Some friendly coaching to improve your speaking skills?
If so, you might like to join the Audible Talkers Toastmasters, which is specifically designed for people with hearing loss. This friendly group meets twice a month, online via Zoom, the first and third Mondays from 6-7:15 pm Arizona time. Their next meeting is May 19, 2025. Everyone is welcome.
Access the meeting at zoom.audibletalkerstoastmasters.com. Questions? Contact Christy Abrams (c.abrams@acdhh.az.gov) or Harry Wolfe (hwolfeaz@gmail.com).
Stay Involved with HLAA and HLAA-WA
We’re glad you’re part of our community.
What more can you do to support people with hearing loss?
HLAA-WA does not endorse any technology, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval. We support the full spectrum of hearing technologies for everyone. As an all-volunteer run organization, 100% of every dollar donated is directed to our programs. HLAA-WA is an IRS non-profit 501(c)(3) organization; all donations are tax-deductible as allowed by relevant IRS code.