In this issue, we share a volunteer opportunity, an open-caption victory, a survey to help shape disability services in Washington State, a heartfelt post on disability pride, a movie we’re excited about, a cochlear implant conference, a $20 hearing aid, and more.
Help Make the Washington State Ferries Hearing-Accessible
We’ve been working with the Washington State Ferries to make sure that people with hearing loss can get important announcements and safety info. We’re happy to report that the WSF is creating an advisory board to help with a text-based alert system.
Find out more, including how you can volunteer to help, in this blog post.
Ask Twice, Receive Hearing Access
When you ask twice for open captions, and you receive them, what happens when you show up the third time?
Kirsten and John Robbins, longtime HLAA-WA advocates, recently attended a FIFA viewing party given by the City of Renton and requested captions–twice.
Their story is a good reminder that in hearing advocacy and in life, persistence works.
Research Study Participant Opportunity: Hearing Access in Primary Care
Central Michigan University is recruiting Deaf and hard-of-hearing folks to answer questions about their experiences with communication barriers in primary care settings. The survey will take just 15-20 minutes to complete.
Please see this flyer for more information. There will be a QR code on the flyer that you’ll want to follow. (If you see an advertisement, simply click on “continue to destination,” and that will take you to the survey.
Short Survey: Help Prioritize Services for People with Disabilities in Washington State
The Washington State Independent Living Council (WASILC) would like to hear from people with disabilities, including hearing loss, as they create their 3-year plan.
Your answers to their short survey will help guide policy and resources for people with disabilities in our state. We encourage you participate. You could win a $100 gift card, too.
Disability Pride? Me? Yes!
July is Disability Pride Month. Do people with hearing loss have reason to be proud? Our wonderful writer Becky Montgomery says YES in this blog post.
Celebrating 36 Years of the ADA
July 26 marks the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed by President George Bush in 1990. This landmark civil rights legislation expanded access and opportunities for millions of Americans with disabilities.
For people with hearing loss, the ADA helped ensure access through assistive listening systems, captioning, interpreters, and the right to effective communication in employment, education, and public life.
While much progress has been made, creating accessible communities is an ongoing effort–and a job for all of us.
We encourage you to join an ADA event in your area. For example, you can register for “The Fundamentals of Accessibility” webinar presented by the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, July 22, Noon- 1:15 pm.
Get ASL and Other Communication Access at SEA Airport
Our SEA (formerly SeaTac) Airport now provides live video ASL, called Mobile Video Remote Interpreting.
People with hearing loss might also benefit from other disability access help at SEA, including communication tip cards, sunflower lanyards, and the hearing loops at information desks.
Disability Performance in the Spotlight: ILLUMINATE 2026 at Seattle Center
Enjoy films, plays, readings, and a panel discussion by artists with disabilities at ILLUMINATE 2026. July 21 and July 27, 2026. This festival celebrates Disability Pride Month with art and entertainment for everyone.
The festival is held at the Seattle Center Theatre Black Box. Here’s more information about Sound Theatre Company’s accessibility. We aren’t sure if there is an assistive listening system in this specific venue, so if you go, please request the hearing access that you need: accessibility@soundthearecompany.org.
Hearing-Friendly Entertainment: Author Talks, Governor Inslee, and More at Town Hall Seattle
Town Hall Seattle is an extremely hearing-friendly venue, with hearing loops in all three event spaces. Here are just a few of the events coming up this summer.
- July 23rd, 7:30 pm – The Emperor of Gladness: A Novel, with Ocean Vuong and Putsata Reang
- July 29th, 7:30 pm – “This is the Plan: How to End America’s Meltdown and Save Democracy,” with Ben Wikler and former Washington State governor Jay Inslee.
- August 12, 6:30 pm – “Noticing” with Richard Louv and Sally Jewell.
Many Town Hall Seattle events are free or low-cost. The venue itself is also accessible to people with other disabilities, with an elevator, wheelchair ramps, Braille signage, and more.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
Webinar: “The Information We Carry: Genetics and Hearing Loss”
Genetic hearing loss affects people of all ages. Find out how genetics plays a role in our hearing, what genetic testing can do, and how advances in research are shaping the future of hearing healthcare.
This HLAA webinar is August 26, 2026, at Noon Pacific.
Read the Latest Issue of Hearing Well Magazine from the Hearing Health Foundation
The latest issue of Hearing Health magazine features an article on mini-microphones, stories of music lovers with hearing loss, captions for gamers, and more.
Read the summer issue here. Note this is not to be confused with HLAA’s outstanding Hearing Life magazine.
Disability Rights Film Being Heumann Will Open the Toronto International Film Festival
The movie Being Heumann, which focuses on disability rights activist Judy Heumann, will be featured on opening night at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 10, 2026. We’re happy that a film that centers disability advocacy and centers one of its heroes could reach a big audience. Note this is not a documentary, but it is adapted from Heumann’s 2020 memoir. Heumann passed in 2023.
TIFF will be Being Heumann’s world premiere. We’ll let you know when the film comes to us locally or when it’s available to stream.
Cochlear Implant International Community of Action (CIICA) Conference Is October 21- 23rd, 2026, in Brussels
Cochlear implant wearers: Wanna go to Brussels this fall?
The theme of the third CIICA conference is “Where Science Meets Experience | Advocating for Sustainable, Lifelong CI Services Globally.” People who use CIs may be eligible for a 50% discount on tickets.
More information here, including the agenda, which includes a free reception, a paid welcome dinner, advocacy help, science talks, help for parents, and more.
Hearing Technology News
Three Views on Auracast
We get a lot of questions about Auracast, the emerging assistive listening system that’s getting a lot of attention at the moment. While we’re excited about Auracast’s possibilities, we also believe that we need the full spectrum of technologies — including hearing loops — to truly include all people with hearing loss in all settings.
This excellent series of articles in Hearing Life magazine, including one by our president Cheri Perazzoli, takes a deeper dive into Auracast.
Auracast at a K-Pop Concert
The Korean (K-Pop) music group Big Ocean all identify as Deaf, and they use cochlear implants or hearing aids, sometimes both. When they perform, they use light cues and vibrations to coordinate and communicate with each other.
At a recent show in South Korea, they used Auracast to ensure their fans with hearing loss could relax and enjoy the show. Pretty cool!
A Startup Company Has Invented a $20 Hearing Aid
At McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, three students have developed a hearing aid that they say needs no battery and could cost as little as $20 a pair. The students were inspired to do so by watching their family members’ experiences with hearing loss and struggling to pay for many expensive hearing aids.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Our Renton support group and our HOPE virtual support group are on
summer hiatus during July and August.
Both teams will be back in September.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
August 15, 2026, 11:00 – 2:00, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month’s meeting is a picnic at Whatcom Falls Park Pavillion. Members and friends are welcome.
While their picnic will be at a different location in August, the HLAA-NWWA chapter generally meets the third Saturday of the month at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped, captioned, and free. Open to all, including friends and family.
National Online Support for Veterans with Hearing Loss
July 21, 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific time
Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting
The national HLAA office has a virtual chapter dedicated to veterans with hearing loss. They meet online every third Tuesday of the month, and everyone is welcome.
Meet with veterans from across the county to talk about issues related to veterans and hearing loss. Caregivers and family members of veterans are welcome to attend. Free and captioned.
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?
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and HLAA-WA do not endorse specific products or services,
but educate and advocate for a range of assistive technology options to help people with
hearing loss understand, connect, and stay engaged in their lives.
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.