In this issue, we share volunteer and leadership opportunities, free speakers training, a big victory for Hawaiians with hearing loss, and more.
Leadership and Volunteer Opportunities with HLAA-WA
We’re expanding our leadership and volunteer team! We’re looking for folks to help us build a bright future for people with hearing loss across Washington State.
In particular, we’re looking for a board Vice President and President. We’re also seeking people to help with communications, fundraising, outreach, and more.
Interested? Read more in our blog post, or reach out to our nominations committee: susanhoxie@gmail.com, or our volunteer manager, jjohnson@hearingloss-wa.org.
Gain Confidence and Skills at Our Speaker Training & Practice Group
Interested in developing your speaking skills to speak more confidently and comfortably about hearing loss or HLAA-WA?
This free, online training is open to everyone. It starts this fall, so don’t wait.
Read more about our upcoming Speaker Training & Practice Group.
Talking Hearing Loss at Seattle’s Civic Coffee
Thank you to Jacqui Metzger, who joined panelists Teresa Tam and Emily Machado to talk about hearing loss at Age Friendly Seattle’s Civic Coffee on August 25.
You can watch the video of the presentation on Age Friendly Seattle’s YouTube channel.
UW Student Wins Award for Advancing Hearing via AI
University of Washington PhD student Malek Itani has earned the Marconi Society Young Scholar Award! His research seeks to improve how hearing devices isolate the sounds we want to hear.
Among other accomplishments, Itani and his fellow researchers developed TF-MLPNet, which allows hearing devices and ear buds — which don’t have huge power and processing capabilities — to use AI.
Read more about Itani’s research in this UW Allen School blog post.
News & Events from the Washington State Independent Living Council
Our friends at WASILIC are doing a community survey, hosting community feedback sessions, and providing emergency responder training. We encourage you to participate in their outstanding work to support people with disabilities.
- This community survey will help determine how services and advocacy are prioritized for people with disabilities in Washington State.
- Two online Community Engagement Sessions will share details on the State Plan for Independent Living and how we can help ensure that people with disabilities maintain independence and access. Register for the September 19, Noon – 2pm session, or September 24th, 5:30 – 7:30 pm.
- An Inclusive Emergency Practices training series geared toward first responders is on October 20, 1-3 pm, via Zoom. ASL and CART are provided. This training is free and could save someone’s life. Please share this training with all first responders and emergency managers you know.
Coming Up: Author Events with Sara Novic!
We’re excited to partner with the Seattle Public Library for a series of Seattle Reads events featuring bestselling author Sara Nović.
Register now by clicking on the links below to attend one of these author events. Note that you’ll be joining several of our members who are also attending! Tickets are limited, so act fast.
- September 25, 11:00 am at Ballard Branch, 5614 22nd Ave. N.W.
- September 25, 7:00 pm at Hugo House, Lapis Theater, 1634 11th Ave
- September 26, 11:00 am at SouthEast Seattle Senior Center, 4655 S. Holly St.
- September 26, 3:00 pm at the Central Library, 1000 4th Ave
- September 27, 11:00 am at Central Library. This is a private event held in conjunction with Deaf Spotlight and designed for the Deaf community. It will take place completely in ASL.
All public programs will have ASL and CART live captioning. Venues do have assistive listening systems as well.
Sara is also an activist and instructor of Deaf studies and creative writing. Learn more about Sara and purchase their books on their website.
If you’re interested in helping HLAA-WA at an informational table at one of these events, please contact our volunteer manager, Jullie Johnson: jjohnson@hearingloss-wa.org.
Hearing-Friendly Entertainment
Town Hall Seattle
Town Hall Seattle has hearing loops in all three event spaces, making it an incredibly hearing-friendly venue.
The folks at Town Hall Seattle are ramping up for the fall, including events such as the Jaipur Literature Festival, a panel discussion on accessibility, and a book talk with author Emily St. John Mandel.
We’re proud to be a Town Hall Seattle rental partner.
In Memory: Sandra Vidgoff
We’re sad to share the news of the recent passing of Sandra Vidgoff, longtime HLAA-WA member. In the early days HLAA-WA, Sandra was a caring, welcoming member of our Bellevue Chapter. Later, she became a gracious and friendly presence at our picnic and other community events.
Our deepest condolences go out to Sandra’s loved ones, especially Ed Friant and Kirsten Robbins. You can read more about Sandra in our blog post.
National Hearing Loss News & Events
Hawaii Takes a HUGE Step Toward Better Hearing Health
In July, Hawaii passed a law (HB 1974 CD1) directing state government to develop a comprehensive statewide plan to help people with hearing loss. This plan will address access to hearing healthcare services, affordability, workforce development, treatment, and more.
This is a huge victory for hearing loss advocates and for anyone experiencing hearing loss in Hawaii.
Can we do something like this in Washington State, you may be thinking? Stay tuned!
What Everyone Should Know about Hearing, Hearing Aids & Healthy Aging
In this outstanding video, advocates Juliette Sterkens and Wynne Whyman do a deep-dive into hearing loss, hearing aids, assistive listening, and more. Juliette and Wynne also explain why caring for our hearing is fundamental to healthy aging.
Thank you to the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging for creating this opportunity to talk hearing loss.
September is Deaf Awareness Month
All year long, but during Deaf Awareness month especially, we support our Deaf friends and partners.
Learn more about Deaf communities, find resources, and learn how you can help and support them by checking out the links below.
- Mama Hu Hears is an pediatric audiologist who is also a cochlear implant user. She offers terrific resources especially for parents of Deaf children.
- The Washington State Association of the Deaf is our partner organization. They host many Deaf events and are our allies in raising our voices for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.
HLAA National Online Meeting:
Artificial Intelligence and Hearing Loss
September 16, 2026 | 4:00 pm Pacific
At this meeting, Dr. Jan Blustein will share highlights and key insights from the 2026 HLAA Research Symposium, “The AI Revolution in Hearing Health – Smarter Tech, Greater Access.”
Afterward, participants can connect in virtual breakout sessions to discuss the theme “The Silver Lining of Hearing Loss.” Shari Eberts, Holly Cohen, and Roxana Rotundo will moderate these small group discussions.
WEBINAR
Beyond Performance: Building a Personal Brand with Hearing Loss
October 21, 2026 | 11:00 am Pacific
Having a hearing loss at work sometimes means you fall into a visibility gap. You may have less access to informal conversations or experience challenges in group settings, and this can impact your visibility–and ultimately your career.
What can you do?
Get recognized for your stronger performances and value by building your personal brand. Learn to make your value visible in this free, captioned HLAA webinar.
Research Participant Opportunity: Communication Barriers in Healthcare
People with hearing loss are invited to share our experiences with communication barriers in healthcare in this research study.
The study is led by Kemeny Ridley, a doctoral candidate in audiology at Central Michigan University.
Reminder: Research Study Opportunity: Do You Use Captions for Voice Phone Calls?
If you’re over 50, have a hearing loss, and use captions for phone calls, you may qualify for an ICAAT research study. This study aims to improve captioned telephone services.
Participants will receive an Amazon gift card.
Hearing Technology News
Auracast? Yes, But Keep Your Loops, Too
Auracast assistive listening systems will be more and more available in the coming years. A few smartphones, such as Google Pixel 9 and 10 and newer Samsung phones, offer “native Auracast reception” already.
But many venues are choosing to have both hearing loops and Auracast for many reasons, including ease of use and lack of access in many devices, including Apple phones.
Read more in this article from AV Interactive. You may need to register for a subscription, but it’s free.
Google Launches Sign Language to Text Dictation
Google’s new sign-language-to-text option is now available in Gboard and Live Transcribe on Pixel 11.
Through this method, Deaf people can sign to their phone rather than typing into it. This may be easier, faster, and more natural for many people who use ASL.
For more information, read this Google DeepMind article.
Auracast Now Available at the Movies
The Vue Cinema chain now offers Auracast assistive listening across multiple movie theatres in Ireland and the UK.
Some Vue theatres also have CaptiView captions, open captions, and audio described showings in addition to Auracast.
Do you know of any movie theatres in the U.S. that have Auracast assistive listening? Let us know: webmaster@hearingloss-wa.org.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Renton, Washington
October 9, 2026 | 1:00 pm
Our Renton Support Group meets the second Friday of each month. We’re meeting temporarily at the Renton Community Center until we can resume meeting at the Renton Senior Center, which is currently closed for renovations.
No registration necessary. Free.
Local, Online Support for Everyone with Hearing Loss: HOPE
October 7, 2026 | 4:00 pm Pacific
Need HOPE and support for your hearing loss? You’re warmly invited to come our online hearing loss support meeting: HOPE Hearing Other People’s Experiences.
Facilitated by a caring, compassionate team, these monthly virtual meetings are free, live-captioned, and open to everyone with hearing loss and their friends and family.
HOPE meets the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 pm.
Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington
September 19, 2026 | 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month’s program: “Coping Strategies When Hearing and Communication Matter,” with advocate Dean Olson.
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.
NEW: Support Group for Parents of Kids with Genetic Hearing Loss
September 24, 2026 | 9:30 Pacific
HLAA is launching a new online support group, The Genetic Connection, a peer support for parents of children with genetic hearing loss.
This welcoming virtual group will give parents an opportunity to connect, share experiences, ask questions, and learn from one another. The first meeting, led by Michelle Hu, Au.D., will focus on what families should know after their child has been identified with genetic hearing loss—including what the diagnosis means, what steps to consider next, and how genetic hearing loss may differ from other types of hearing loss.
National Online Support for Parents of Kids with Hearing Loss
September 16, 2026 | 5:00 pm Pacific
Hear Together: Parents of Children with Hearing Loss
Led by a speech-language pathologist and an audiologist, this virtual national parents’ support group is designed to connect families and provide resources and support. The group meets regularly on the third Wednesday of the month, with the meeting moved to the fourth Wednesday in February only.
National Online Support for Veterans with Hearing Loss
September 15, 2026 | 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm Pacific time
The national HLAA office has a virtual chapter dedicated to veterans with hearing loss: the Veterans Across America Virtual Chapter Meeting (VVAVC) They meet online every third Tuesday of the month, and everyone is welcome, including friends, family, and caregivers of veterans.
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.