Our June 10, 2025 news update
Washington State Hearing Loss News
You’re Invited to Our Community Picnic
Join us for our annual community potluck picnic on July 12, 2025, 11-3, at Lake Boren Park in Newcastle, Washington, not far from Bellevue. You’ll find us at the shelter by the tennis courts.
We’ll provide hot dogs, buns, chips, bottled water, ice, coffee, and condiments. You’re welcome to bring other proteins we’ll grill for you, plus your own drinks and goodies (6-8 servings) to share. If your last name begins with A-L, we encourage you to bring a side or salad, and M-Z folks can bring a dessert. We’ll eat around noon. Alcohol is not allowed in the park.
Special guests this year: Alex Alfieri and Bryan Greenway from the newly formed Northwest Academy of Audiology will join us for fun and conversation. We’re exploring joining forces with NWAA to help people with hearing loss get the best possible support — bring your thoughts and ideas.
A hearing loop in the shelter, games, and more fun await you as we celebrate our 35th birthday in the summer sunshine.
See you there!
The John Waldo Bill Is Now a Law!
Governor Bob Ferguson (D-WA) has signed the John Waldo Act, the open-caption bill, SB 5486. We were pleased to be part of the signing ceremony in Olympia along with our friends and fellow advocates, including Echo Greenlee, Sen. Tina Orwall, Walt Bowen, and Karen Atwood.
Beginning January 1, 2026, many movie theaters will be required to have more open-captioned shows at peak times. Learn more about the new law in this blog post from Becky Montgomery.
Thank you to all who helped get this bill passed!
We’re Moving to Our Summer Publishing Schedule
Our e-news usually comes to you every other week. But for this summer, we’ll be publishing monthly on these dates:
- July 8, 2025 – deadline for submissions: July 3
- August 12, 2025 – deadline for submissions: August 7
Our regular schedule resumes September 9, 2025.
Your suggestions, news, events, and even your story ideas are welcome. And if you’d like to write a blog post about hearing loss, hearing access, or assistive technologies, even better.
Contact us at mailchimp@hearingloss-wa.org with your ideas.
A Gathering of Hearts, Minds, and Perspectives
A special kind of magic happens when people with similar experiences and challenges come together to share their stories. You can feel the connection, understanding, and support, and often learn a thing or two. This was certainly true when the hearing loss community gathered for the 2025 HLAA-Washington Annual Community Meeting, April 26 at Town Hall Seattle. There were also hugs, laughs, great conversations, people on Zoom, and for those attending in person, lots of food!
See more photos and read all the highlights. Thank you to all who participated.
Seattle Is Amplified and So Is Our Voice
Check out this Visit Seattle guide. On page 14, in an article called “Seattle Amplified,” HLAA-WA President Cheri Perazzoli is quoted, and the guide shares hearing-friendly places in Seattle, like The Rep. And they also give a shout-out to HLAA-WA.
Thank you, Visit Seattle!
News From HLAA-Northwest Washington
News from our friends up north, courtesy of HLAA-NWWA President Larry Wonnacott.
- Mark your calendars for the annual Cracked Crab Dinner Cruise on August 16, 2025, at 5:45 pm. Forty spots are reserved on the Victoria Star. Let Larry Wonnacott know if you’d like to attend: lwonnacott@symmetryfunds.com
- A celebration of life for Claydene Lederer, longtime hearing loss advocate and HLAA-NWWA leader, will be held on June 13, 2025, 7:00 pm at Christ the Servant Lutheran Church, the usual HLAA-NWWA meeting place.
Submissions Are Open for the Seattle Deaf Film Festival April 10-12, 2026
First, get excited about the Seattle Deaf Film Festival next spring and plan to attend in person at NW Film Forum in Seattle, or online.
Next, share the call for film submissions, which is now open.
National Hearing Loss News
Action Alert: Make Hearing Aid Battery Packaging Accessible
Hearing aid battery packaging has become nearly impossible to open, especially for seniors and for people with arthritis or other manual dexterity challenges.
While some packaging changes have made batteries more child-safe, many hearing aid packages are now impossible to open. People with hearing loss need to be able to access these batteries safely and quickly.
If you agree changes are needed, you can sign this petition, which aims to improve packaging standards for hearing aid batteries.
Reminder: Action Alert – Support Infant Hearing Screenings
The Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Act (EHDI) is in danger of losing funding. This crucial program has helped improve hearing screening rates for infants, increasing early intervention and treatment. Without this federal funding, states may not be able to afford the program, and babies may go undiagnosed.
Hearing Aid Glasses Are Coming.
Do They Work?
We often say that hearing aids aren’t like glasses. But can hearing aids be glasses?
In this Hearing Tracker video, Matthew Allsop looks at Nuance Audio EssilorLuxottica hearing glasses. Allsop looks at the research, which seems promising, then offers his thoughts on the pros and cons.
Hat tip to Carolyn Odio for this story.
Spotlight on Loops & Assistive Listening Systems
Auracast Is Appearing in More Places
We’ve been saying that loops are today’s technology, and Auracast may be tomorrow’s technology. But is tomorrow coming sooner than we thought?
Hearing loss advocate Stephen O. Frazier explains that Auracast is being used in more places, and he shares a list of hearing devices that have Auracast or are Auracast-ready. The Sydney Opera House now has Auracast, and Auracast is being tested locally — stay tuned for info on that.
Until Auracast is accessible to all, we’ll still need hearing loops, though. And there are thousands of loops around the world you can tune into now, today. Read more about loops and how to find them here in Washington State.
Hearing Loss Support Meetings & Hearing-Friendly Events
Get In-Person Support for Your Hearing Loss
- June 13, 2025, Renton: Our in-person monthly support group meets the second Friday of the month at 1pm at the Renton Senior Activity Center, 211 Burnett Avenue North. The June meeting will not be looped, as the looped room is booked for a different event. The group will not meet in July or August, so we warmly encourage you to join us at our picnic on July 12, 2025.
- June 20, 2025, Lacey: “Understanding Hearing Loss” with Heidi Crabtree and Carolyn Odio, 4:00 – 5:00 pm, 500 College St SE, Lacey. Free. Click here for the flyer.
- June 21, 2025, Bellingham: HLAA-Northwest Washington Chapter monthly meeting. This month’s presentation is “All About the Buzz: Tinnitus Revisited” with Tracey Demmon, audiologist at Hearing Northwest. This chapter meets the third Saturday of the month, 9:30 – Noon, at Christ the Servant Church, 2600 Lakeway Drive, Bellingham, Washington. Looped and free.
Toastmasters Online for People with Hearing Loss
Need a boost in confidence? Some friendly coaching to improve your speaking skills?
If so, you might like to join the Audible Talkers Toastmasters, which is specifically designed for people with hearing loss. This friendly group meets twice a month, online via Zoom, the first and third Mondays from 6-7:15 pm Arizona time. Their next meeting is June 16, 2025. Everyone is welcome.
Access the meeting at zoom.audibletalkerstoastmasters.com. Questions? Contact Christy Abrams (c.abrams@acdhh.az.gov) or Harry Wolfe (hwolfeaz@gmail.com).
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?
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.