Washington State Hearing Loss News
New Legislation Helps Older Adults with Hearing Loss in Washington State
Hearing aid insurance coverage, captions on televisions in public, and improved consumer education: New laws are making life better for people with hearing loss here in our state. And we’re proud to have helped lead the way.
When big-hearted people come together for a cause this important, there’s nothing they can’t do!
Cynthia Stewart, HLAA-WA legislative liaison, shares more about these legislative victories in this AgeWise King County article.
Holiday Bazaar at the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center
Sip hot chocolate, nibble cookies, buy a gift for your mom, and say hello to our friends at HSDC at their holiday bazaar on November 11, 2023, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Note: The Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center offers unbundled audiology services, a speech and language clinic, classes such as a Parent-Infant Program, ASL interpreter services, and more. We encourage you to check out their services to see how they might help you.
Toastmasters Audible Talkers Club Inspires People with Hearing Loss
In Arizona, a Toastmasters public speaking club especially designed for people with hearing loss is helping people dream bigger. This club, led by Harry Wolfe, is fully hearing-accessible. They meet online, and new members are welcome, no matter where they may live. The meetings include formal speeches and respectful evaluations that include praise and encouragement, plus impromptu speeches.
In our latest blog post, find out more about this caring, supportive group, and read how one participant found courage to chase her dreams.
Reminder: Special Free Screening of Crip Camp in Seattle
What happens when a group of teen campers joins the fight for disability rights? A grass-roots movement is born. Crip Camp tells their story.
Join a free screening of Crip Camp, a movie produced by Barack and Michelle Obama, on Saturday, November 18, 2023, at 1:00 pm at Town Hall Seattle. We’ll be in attendance!
This special event celebrates the 33rd anniversary of the ADA and honors activist Judy Heumann (1947-2023). A Q&A with the film’s co-director James LeBrecht and ArtsFund’s Michael Greer will follow the movie.
Town Hall Seattle has loops in all three event spaces. ASL and captions will be provided.
The screening is co-presented by the Seattle Cultural Accessibility Consortium, Town Hall, and the Seattle International Film Festival.
Next HOPE Meeting: Wednesday, December 6, 2023
What assistive technology can help during a family Thanksgiving dinner? How long will it be before I hear better with my new cochlear implant?
These are two of the topics we discussed together in our last HOPE meeting.
Our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meetings are a safe, welcoming space where you can ask questions from your peers about anything and everything hearing loss and hearing tech.
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 relax, listen, and simply spend time with people who understand what it’s like to live with hearing loss.
Note: You can read summaries from past meetings on our blog.
National Hearing Loss News
RESCHEDULED Webinar: The Sky’s the Limit for Disability Workplace Inclusion
The HLAA “Mission Possible” webinar is rescheduled to November 16, 2023, 2:00 pm Pacific/5:00 pm Eastern.
Accessibility in space? Yes! And here on Earth, too. At this fun, free, and captioned webinar from HLAA’s Employment Accessibility Task Force, find out how AstroAccess is elevating workplace accessibility to stratospheric heights, especially for STEM professionals with disabilities.
Be sure to share this webinar with your employer.
Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Could Be a Game Changer, Yet Some Consumers Remain Unsure
Consumers may still be confused about over-the-counter hearing aids, says The New York Times in this October 30, 2023 article. Yet as the article correctly points out, hearing aids have many benefits, including possibly reducing the risk of cognitive decline in some people.
There are some encouraging signs, though: According to the article, Lexie says 94% of its buyers are first-time purchasers, and Dr. Frank Lin sees “increased innovation and lower prices ahead.”
Hearing Loops & Telecoils Spotlight
National Hearing Loop Advocate Juliette Sterkens Is Winning Hearts and Minds
New technologies hold promise, but people with hearing loss still need telecoils in their hearing aids and hearing loops in public spaces, says Juliette Sterkens, AuD. As a national hearing loop advocate, Juliette carries her message across the country and around the world.
And people are taking notice.
The Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA) presented Juliette with their advocacy award on November 1, 2023 at ALDAcon in Austin, Texas.
And Juliette was a featured presenter at TEDX Oshkosh on November 4, 2023.
To find out more about Juliette’s work on behalf of people with hearing loss for HLAA and HLAA’s Get in the Hearing Loop program, check out this cover story in Hearing Life magazine.
This week, Juliette — who’s also a brand-new grandmother — is on her way to Australia. Stay tuned for more about her TEDX adventure and learn what she’s up to next.
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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.