In this issue, we share picnic details, open-captioned summer movies, another study showing the benefits of hearing aids, a doorbell chime you can see, and more.
Come Enjoy Our Annual Picnic on
July 11, 2026
Games, grilling, a raffle, friendship, a special award, and fun: Our annual hearing loss community picnic is on your calendar already, right? Of course it is. And you need the details, which you’ll find in our blog post.
You can download and share a copy of our flyer, too.
Let City of Seattle Know About Your Barriers to Disability Access
The City of Seattle is updating its ADA Transition Plan, and they want to hear from you.
While it looks like the focus is on mobility access, they do ask if you have a hearing disability. We encourage you to fill out the survey and let the City of Seattle know how and where you need hearing help or other disability access.
The deadline is September 15, 2026.
Do You Have a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Designation on Your State ID or Driver’s License?
In Washington State, we have the option of adding a designation to our ID or driver’s license that tells first responders that we’re Deaf or hard of hearing. You can choose to put the designation on the actual ID or license, or the information can simply be in the system for law enforcement officers to see. Medical personnel can only see the designation on your license or ID.
You can submit the information in person, at a driver’s licensing office, or you can download, complete, and mail in a form. If you do visit the DOL in person and you need hearing or ASL accommodations, be sure to request them.
For more information, visit the Department of Licensing website.
A New Program at the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)
A new DSHS initiative, Seniors Thrive Access and Resources or STAR, will focus on improving senior services and caregiver training. The program will be led by Hope Crumley, and our good friend Michael Fox will transition to this new program.
Watch Earnest Covington III make this announcement in this video, which includes audio, captions, and ASL. You can view the updated organizational chart with new roles and responsibilities here.
Our E-News Schedule for Summer
Summer means sunglasses and sprinklers and also that our newsletter becomes monthly rather than twice-monthly. Here’s our schedule for this summer.
- July 21, 2026 – deadline: July 15
- August 4, 2026 – deadline: July 30
We’ll resume our regular schedule in September.
Do you have a story idea for us? Or would you like to do a blog post or an article? We’d love to hear from you: webmaster@hearingloss-wa.org.
Hearing-Friendly Live Entertainment: Open-Caption Movies at Seattle International Film Festival (SIFF)
The Seattle International Film Festival shows fascinating movies all year round. And they present many films with open captions on Sunday matinees and all day Tuesdays.
SIFF Cinema venues also have assistive listening devices. Check with the theater before you go to confirm what’s available, then once you’re at the cinema, ask for a device.
As an independent film house, SIFF also presents many films with subtitles, including films from all over the world.
Coming up this summer…
- Disclosure Day at SIFF Cinema Downtown (formerly the Cinerama): Tuesday, June 23rd; Sunday, June 28; and Tuesday, June 30th.
- I Love Boosters at SIFF Cinema Uptown: Tuesday, June 23rd, all showings.
- Backrooms at SIFF Cinema Uptown: Tuesday, June 23rd, all showings.
- Disclosure Day at SIFF Cinema Downtown: Tuesday, June 23rd, all screenings and Sunday, June 28 matinee screenings, and Tuesday, June 30 all screenings.
- Leviticus at SIFF Cinema Uptown: Tuesday, June 23, all screenings.
Coming soon: Rose of Nevada and Minions & Monsters.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
Another Study Links Hearing Aid Use to a Reduced Risk of Dementia
If you have a hearing loss, wearing a hearing aid may lower your risk for dementia — but you need to use your hearing aids effectively, according to this study in Cell Reports Medicine.
We talk further about the complex links between hearing loss, hearing aids, and cognitive decline on our webpage.
Hearing aids can boost your health and well-being in many ways, whether directly or indirectly.
Highlights from the HLAA Convention in Lexington, Kentucky
Miss the convention this year?
Check out the interviews with attendees on this video from HLAA’s Facebook, and watch the highlights here (hey, that’s our dear friend Ann Thomas!). You can also read about the award recipients.
Plan now to join next year’s convention in Atlanta, Georgia, Jun3 24-26, 2027, at the InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta.
Hearing Technology Spotlights
What Is an ADA-Access-Ready Hearing Aid, Exactly?
Getting the most out of your hearing aids means connecting them with other things you use: phones, laptops, televisions, and public assistive listening systems like hearing loops.
The wise folks at the Center for Hearing Access (CHA) look at it this way: When a hearing aid or CI has both telecoils and Auracast technology, it’s ADA-access-ready. That means you can connect to public assistive listening systems, which are required under the ADA.
More details on what that means exactly, plus a downloadable list of ADA-compatible devices to consider, are on this CHA webpage.
A Doorbell Chime That You Can See
Hearing loss might mean that we can’t hear our doorbell, which can make us feel stressed and anxious.
Try a doorbell designed for people with hearing loss and people who are Deaf.
These systems can flash, show text, or provide an adjustable chime transmitter. Some doorbells are integrated with other alert systems, such as smoke alarms.
Diglo sells some of these, as do other companies, such as Safeguard Supply. You could also check with ODHH or your caseworker to see if you might qualify for a free or discounted doorbell.
Note: We don’t endorse one company or one technology over another. Rather, we support a spectrum of technologies and resources to help people with hearing loss to live fully and safely.
New Tech Coming to InnoCaption Phone Captions
Smarter phone accessibility tech? AI that lowers our cognitive load? Sign us up!
InnoCaption is offering new services to make communications easier for people with hearing loss.
For example, you can enter or speak a word or phrase, and the InnoCaption app will provide predictive text, speeding up your conversation. You can even “pre-save” information like your name and address, and the predictive text will fill it in. Interestingly, a function called AI Refine will craft an entire sentence for you when you type or speak a couple words, which could help Deaf people as well.
InnoCaption is one of several companies that provide FCC-subsidized captioned calls through the Telecommunications Relay Service Fund. Here’s a helpful blog post and video that explains more.
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.
Meanwhile, we hope to see you at our picnic on July 11.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
July 18, 2026, 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month: “When Scholarships Really Have Extra Meaning,” with the FF Team, student recipients, and the Whatcom County Foundation.
The HLAA-NWWA chapter 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.