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.

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.

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.

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.

Come Enjoy Our Annual Picnic on
July 11, 2026

Games, grilling, a raffle, friendship, 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.

Notes from the Inspire Positive Aging Awards, May 28, 2026

Congratulations to HLAA-WA Board Director Carolyn Odio (top photo, right), who was nominated for an Inspire Positive Aging Award from Sound Generations.

While Carolyn was unable to attend the ceremony, HLAA-WA Board President Cheri Perazzoli and Board Director Pamela Williams (bottom photo) did attend and cheer Carolyn and others on.

Congrats to all the inspiring nominees and winners, including the Senior Lobby’s Walt Bowen. And thank you to Sound Generations for a wonderful day.

News From the Washington State Association of the Deaf (WSAD)

Updates and events from our friends at WSAD…

• Webinar with updates on the ASL Interpreter Pathway Initiative, June 24, 6-7:30 pm
• Annual WSAD meeting details: September 19, 2026, in Spokane Valley.
• ASL chats & other events all across the state, including in Seattle, for people who are Deaf.

Read all the WSAD news 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:
Village Theater Presents a Captioned Version of Hymon & Parfunkle

Hymon & Parfunkle never existed, but they have quite a musical catalog anyway. If you love folk music and parodies, you might enjoy this “bio-musical” at Village Theater Issaquah and Everett.

The captioned show performances are Saturday, June 20, 2026 at 2:00 pm in Issaquah and Saturday, July 18, 2026, at 2:00 pm in Everett. An ASL performance is available on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 2:00 pm in Everett.

All Village Theater spaces are equipped with a hearing loop assistive listening system, too.

Improving Hearing Access in Medical Care

Here’s a terrific panel discussion from the virtual Future of Hearing Healthcare 2026 conference. Moderators Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan are joined by Tony Iacolucci and Peggy Ellertsen to talk about the barriers people with hearing loss experience in healthcare settings. And they discuss the initiative Healthcare with Hearing Loss, which is working toward removing these barriers.

For more info on the initiative, visit Healthcare with Hearing Loss (HCHL).

A Cochlear Implant at Age 12, Ice Hockey and Leadership Today

Danny was born deaf and received his cochlear implant at only 12 months old. He struggled to feel accepted as he grew up, but he found belonging and achievement in ice hockey and later in positions of leadership.

We wish we could meet Danny in person. What a cool kid.

New Book Chronicles Sixty-One Days of Hearing Loss

We LOVE the HearingLossLive! website and the people behind it, Chelle Wyatt and Julia Stepp. Now, we’re in for another treat: Chelle Wyatt has written a book called 61 Days of Hearing Loss. Her book explores her daily strategies, struggles, and triumphs as she navigates her hearing loss.

Read excerpts from her book here. You can also order it on Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.

Hearing Loops Now Available at the Appleton, Wisconsin Airport

Airports are one of the most challenging places to hear clearly. When you’re traveling, your stress levels can be up, you might not have slept well, or you may be distracted.

So we especially appreciate hearing loops in airports. The Appleton Airport in Wisconsin has loops at every gate!

Watch this news report from WLUK-TV.

Local, In-Person Support for Hearing Loss: Bellingham – Northwest Washington

June 20, 2026, 9:30 – Noon, Bellingham
HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter
This month:  WE are HLAA-NWWA — “Past, Present, and Future!”

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

June 16, 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.