HLAA-WA E-News
Our Latest News, April 9, 2024
Madonna goes inclusive, highlights of our annual meeting, help for sleeping better with tinnitus, and more.
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Annual Meeting and Awards Show We’re Stronger Together
Thank you to everyone who made our annual meeting a wonderful success this year! It was energizing and inspiring to connect with you all.
Special thanks to our generous sponsors ODHH, Dr. Chad Ruffin, and Spencer Norby.
Kudos to the many behind-the-scenes volunteers who made this event possible.
Glenda Philio, HLAA-WA Secretary, presents the legislative advocacy award to
Rep. Tina Orwall.
Come Meet Us at Outreach EventsAs part of our community education program, we’re sending our outreach team to a location near you. Come see us, say hi, grab some information, ask questions about hearing loss, and find out how we can help you.
- Federal Way Senior Health & Resource Fair, May 16, 2024,10 – 1, Federal Way Performing Arts & Events Center
- Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) Expo, May 17, 2024, 10 am – 2 pm, Clark College, 1933 Fort Vancouver Way, Vancouver, Washington. Free.
- Kennedy Center Leadership Exchange in Arts & Disability (LEAD), July 31 – August 2, 2024, Hyatt Regency Downtown Seattle
If you’d like representatives from HLAA-WA to participate at a community group or event, please contact us: hope@hearingloss-wa.org.
Looking for Peer Support for Your Hearing Loss?
Several support groups are available to you here in Washington State, including online (HOPE), Whatcom County, Renton, and Panorama in Lacey. Visit our website for more information and ideas, or read on below.
HLAA-Whatcom County Meeting
April 20, 2024Meet Jess Taluth, Field Representative from Dogs for Better Lives, at the next HLAA-Whatcom County chapter meeting.
The award-winning HLAA-Whatcom County Chapter meets the third Saturday of every month at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Social time starts at 9:30 am and the meeting runs from 10:00 – 11:30 am. Live CART is provided and the room is looped. Everyone is welcome.
Renton Hearing Loss Support Group
Friday, April 12, 2024You’re invited to our in-person Renton Support Group meeting. This group meets the second Friday of each month (except July and August) at 1 pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North in Renton. No need to register; simply check in at the front desk.
This group is led by our award-winning HLAA-WA Secretary Glenda Philio. A hearing loop is available, and everyone is welcome. Always free.
Next HOPE Meeting: May 1, 2024
Guest Speaker: Cynthia Moynihan, “Life with a Hearing Dog”Our May meeting features an opportunity to learn about hearing dogs from our special guest speaker, Cynthia Moynihan. Cynthia is also a Gallaudet-trained peer mentor for people with hearing loss.
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. You’re welcome to ask questions, and also to simply relax, listen, and spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.
We hope you can join us.
Get Excited: The Seattle Rep Announces Their
2024-2025 SeasonThe very hearing-friendly Seattle Rep Theater has announced their 2024-2025 Season. The Rep has hearing loops throughout their three theaters and at the ticket windows, concierge, and concessions. Also, some shows are captioned. You can check out receivers and headphones at coat check.
- The Skin of Our Teeth, September 26 – October 20, 2024
- Primary Trust, October 24 – November 24, 2024
- Blithe Spirit, November 29 – December 22, 2024
- Blues for an Alabama Sky, January 30 – February 23, 2025
Subscriptions are now available. Single-show tickets will be on sale soon.
Remember, you can always find hearing-friendly events all across Washington State on the events page of our website.
National Hearing Loss News
Latest Hearing Life Magazine Features Tech, Tech, and More Tech
How is artificial intelligence working to help people with hearing loss? What’s the latest must-have hearing technology for workplace accommodations?
HLAA’s quarterly magazine, Hearing Life, has answers.
Madonna Goes Inclusive
Madonna was everywhere in the 80s and 90s and she’s still making audiences dance — including Deaf audience members — on her latest tour.
In this blog post from Deaffriendly Consulting, Melissa Greenlee explains why Madonna’s “Celebration” tour became a “milestone for the Seattle Deaf community.” This concert included two ASL interpreters and performances by Deaf performer Russell Harvard.
For an example of how powerful an experience this can be, you can watch Russell Harvard interpret and perform Madonna’s “I’ll Remember” in this video. We could watch Russell for hours, honestly.
Pssst: Hey, Madonna, how about a hearing loop and captioned performances next?
How to Sleep Better with Your Tinnitus
Tinnitus can sound even louder and be even more bothersome when you’re lying in bed trying to sleep.
On Doctor Cliff’s YouTube channel, audiologist Rachel Cook shares some advice on getting a good night’s sleep with your tinnitus. It starts with a “detox” 2-4 hours before bed.
Find a Walk4Hearing to Cheer and Support
While we don’t yet have a Walk4Hearing here in Washington State, there are many such walks all across the country. You can find one to cheer, share, and donate to.
Proceeds from Walk4Hearing events go to HLAA and to the local or state organization and ultimately, to help people with hearing loss thrive.
School Bus Driver Is Gifted Hearing Aids
In Akron, Ohio, a school bus driver loves his job helping autistic kids get to school. Plus, he also cares for his grandchildren. He needed help hearing them clearly, though.
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
Public-Access Ready Hearing Aids: The Past, Present, and Future
Hearing aids can connect you to people, and also — with a little tech help — connect to public assistive listening systems and to phones, computers, and tablets. To easily use public assistive listening systems like hearing loops, you need “public access ready” hearing aids with telecoils — and systems like hearing loops.
In this thoughtful HearingReview article from Thomas Kaufmann, AuD, find out more, and learn why Auracast ALS isn’t quite public-access ready yet.
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 here and across the country?
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.
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Our Latest News, March 19, 2024
A star hearing loss advocate wows with a TED talk, a big local legal victory with national implications, and more.
Washington State Hearing Loss News
Last Chance to Register for Our Annual Meeting Online
THIS SATURDAY, March 23, 2024
There’s still time to register to attend our annual meeting via Zoom. Our in-person event is fully booked, but you can still attend online.
We have awards, updates, and a chance for you to connect with Rep. Tina Orwall, our greatest ally in the Washington State legislature. After the meeting, our board will meet, and you’re welcome to join.
Remember, all activities in-person and online are fully hearing accessible with ASL interpreters, live captions, and a hearing loop.
Read more about the day’s festivities on our blog.
If you’ve already registered, thank you! We look forward to seeing you in person or online.
Looking for In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss?
Several support groups are available to you here in Washington State, including online (HOPE), Whatcom County, Renton, and Panorama in Lacy. Visit our website for more information and ideas, or read on below.
Renton Hearing Loss Support Group
Friday, April 12, 2024You’re invited to our in-person Renton Support Group meeting. This group meets the second Friday of each month (except July and August) at 1 pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North in Renton. No need to register; simply check in at the front desk.
This group is led by our award-winning HLAA-WA Secretary Glenda Philio. A hearing loop is available, and everyone is welcome. Always free.
Next HOPE Meeting: April 3, 2024
Telehealth captions and finding help with auditory training after cochlear implant surgery were two of the topics we discussed at our March HOPE virtual support meeting.
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. You’re welcome to ask questions, and also to simply relax, listen, and spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.
We hope you can join us.
Hearing-Accessible Events Coming Up in
Mount VernonThe beautiful vintage Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon is LOOPED. That means you can enjoy lots of events by turning your hearing aid or CI to T or telecoil mode to hear more clearly. Coming up…
- April 4, 2024 – Jake Shimabukuro, live in concert
- April 26, 2024 – Best of the Seattle Comedy Competition
- May 5, 2024 – Villalobos Brothers Cinco de Mayo, live in concert
- September 19, 2024 – Hot Tuna, 60s band with Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady, live in concert
The Lincoln also shows movies several times a week. We didn’t see any open-caption shows mentioned, but you can call and request them.
Remember, you can find hearing-friendly events all across Washington State on the events page of our website.
National Hearing Loss News
Local Legal Victory May Have BIG National Impact, and You May Have a Claim
In a legal victory for people with hearing loss, a lack of coverage for hearing aids may violate the Affordable Care Act’s antidiscrimination provision, according to a recent settlement in the Schmitt v. Kaiser lawsuit here in Washington State. And you may be eligible to file a claim.
Thanks to local and national lawyers and advocates, a $3 million settlement fund has been established. If you were covered under certain Kaiser Foundation Health Plans in Washington State between October 30, 2014 and December 31, 2023, and you paid out of pocket for hearing aids or related services, you may be eligible to file a claim.
Read more about how to file a claim, why this may have broader implications for insurance coverage, and more in this excellent summary from HLAA.
A special thank you to John Waldo for his leadership in this lawsuit. John passed away recently. We’re imagining him smiling down on this huge win.
The deadline to file a claim is April 2, 2024, so don’t wait.
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
What You Don’t Know About Hearing Aids
You can learn a lot from Juliette Sterkens.
Hearing aids can help you hear, but tips, tricks, and tech can change your life. And there’s no better messenger on the subject of hearing aids, assistive tech, and hearing loss than Juliette Sterkens, spokeswoman for HLAA’s Get in the Hearing Loop program.
Juliette’s incredible, passionate TEDx Oshkosh talk has already earned over 183,000 views and almost 400 comments. We encourage you to watch the video, like and comment, and share with everyone you know. It’s that good.
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 here and across the country?
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.
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