by Malik B. Amin My hearing loss journey. Things had been going so well. I’d learned a great deal about myself and my trade at the Graduate Acting Program at Brandeis University. I’d joined Actors’ Equity Association (the union of professional stage actors), moved to the New York City area, and traveled across the country doing plays. In fact, things were so good, I decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue television and film opportunities. About a month after the move, I started to lose my hearing. I’d developed Meniere’s disease. And while the effects of my hearing loss would initially reduce my participation in the world of theatre, they would eventually become a contributing factor in the formation of Griot Theatre of the West Valley – soon to be the most accessible theatre in California for people with hearing loss. What follows, is the story of how that came to be. Meniere’s disease affected my balance and deafened my right ear over the course of one year. The hearing in my left ear erratically declined over a period of about seven years. I began with a set of completely-in-the-canal hearing aids at the start of this journey. This was because, as an actor, I was highly concerned about the visibility of the devices and wanted to conceal them as much as possible. But the hearing aids were still visible to those observant enough to notice, and often emitted squeaky feedback to tip off those who had not yet caught on. During these early years, my hearing fluctuated, so that I could never be sure of how it would perform on any given day. This made for increasingly frustrating auditions as I would try to conceal the presence of the hearing aids while trying to follow the instructions of the casting director. As my hearing declined, I became less and less successful in this

endeavor. In the meantime, I was referred to the Los Angeles chapter of HLAA. I showed up at a party and a couple meetings, then stayed away for almost a year. What brought me back to the chapter was the realization that I needed support: this was getting too hard to deal with on my own. In HLA-LA, I found a welcoming group of adults who understood all that I was dealing with and who offered many tips and pieces of advice I found useful in coping with my hearing loss. By this time, the

right ear was completely deaf and I had graduated to a behind-the-ear hearing aid on the left side. As I approached total deafness, I abandoned the world of theatre altogether. On one of many visits to my otolaryngologist, my nurse asked, “So, when are you going to get a cochlear implant?” She was acknowledging that after years of fighting to retain my natural hearing, I had long since passed the threshold to be considered for an implant. After consultation and

consideration, I decided to be implanted on the right side: the fully deaf ear. Making the decision was a release of a burden in and of itself, and my load was further lightened by the example set by a couple of members of HLA-LA who had recently received implants. Watching their experiences helped me to set expectations and also conjured within me the will to be at least as brave as they had been, facing this life-changing procedure. I was implanted on July 13, 2010 and activated the following August 2. I had received all the warnings: implants are different for different people; don’t expect to be able to speak on the phone; don’t expect to be able to listen to music; voices will sound mechanical; it may take six months to a year before you’re able to comprehend speech with your implant. These warnings were appropriate to share with someone

HLA-LA PREZ MALIK B. AMIN OPENS HEARING ACCESSIBLE THEATRE

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contemplating a cochlear implant (CI), because they are accurate for many of us. However, my experience was very different. The first voice I heard upon activation was that of my audiologist. The second voice I heard was my wife’s. When I met my wife, Sabah, I was already wearing hearing aids, so I’d never heard her voice in its natural state. At first, she sounded like a computer, a twin to the computerized voice of my audiologist. But within five minutes, they sounded like distinct computers and I could differentiate their voices. I was able to comprehend 100% of speech in quiet, without any visual cues. And I was using the phone and listening to music within a week. What was most profound was that I suddenly realized how much weight I’d been carrying on my shoulders as a result of my hearing loss. The magnitude of that weight was not made clear

until it was lifted, with the activation of my CI. Everything was now EASIER. And because everything was easier, I felt that I could do ANYTHING. So the question became: what do you want to do? As a teenager, growing up in St. Louis, I had dreamed of opening a theatre some day. I had even gone as far as to pick an ideal location, an abandoned drive-in movie theatre near my high school and just off highway 270. As occurs with many youthful plans, these thoughts gave way to more practical concerns as I proceeded through life. However, the seed remained rooted and as I contemplated how best to make use of my second chance at hearing – and yes, my second chance at living – this theatre idea began to climb its way to the surface. The idea did not arrive fully formed, rather, it was shaped by a number of events, people and experiences. Sabah had been an actor about as long as I. In fact, we met when she came to see a friend of hers in a play in which I appeared. She also produced short films, plays and other

theatrical events. Like many in the field (myself included), Sabah worked a corporate job to pay the bills, while pursuing auditions and performing when she could. However, the longer she stayed at the corporate job, it seemed the less freedom and energy she had to devote to her craft. As we contemplated founding a professional theatre to serve Los Angeles’s West San Fernando Valley, we made a deal: Sabah would leave her corporate job and I would keep mine. We would increase our chances of success by having a full-time staff member at the very beginning, with Sabah serving as Executive Director. And we would call it Griot Theatre of the West Valley. Griot is a West African term of French origin that describes the traditional story-tellers who would, through an oral tradition, pass on the culture and legacies of a community to each generation.

Given our experiences as actors, and in particular, my experience with hearing loss, we wanted to create a place where artists who might not have many opportunities at other theatres, could have a real shot at being employed as professionals. And so we developed our mission statement: to create a forum for professional theatre artists from underrepresented groups – including women, artists of color, and artists with physical disabilities – to create theatre in new ways. We then needed to determine what kind of plays we would do. As storytellers, part of our function had to be to pass on cultural legacies, as mentioned above. In that aim, we committed to producing Shakespeare and other classics in ways that would make the work accessible to modern audiences. The second pillar of our work was defined as producing established plays that celebrate diversity in some way. And finally, we committed to contribute to the future of American Theatre by producing new plays by women, writers of color, or writers with physical disabilities. The above defined our artistic vision.

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Next, we needed to tackle accessibility issues. But thinking about accessibility was not something that was second nature to me; it was something that I learned from my local HLAA chapter. HLA-LA meetings were held monthly, in a room with a “hearing loop” and they were captioned. After getting my CI, I was able to hit the “t-coil” button and experience the meetings with greater clarity and appreciation. The “hearing loop” is a beautiful tool to allow CI and hearing aid users an opportunity to remove the distance between themselves and the source of any amplified sound. While I greatly appreciated this experience at the chapter meetings, my attendance at the HLAA National Convention in 2011 convinced me of the power and need for “hearing loops” in as many public spaces as possible. And it also convinced me that Griot Theatre would have to be “looped”. A “looped” venue would open the world of theatre to many people who had stayed away, simply because they could not hear well enough to enjoy live performances. And once it was decided that the theatre would be “looped” it was a natural progression to include open captioning and ASL interpretation as part of our accessibility offerings. Unfortunately, many existing theatres had only taken one, if any of the above steps to make theatre more inviting to the hearing loss community. However, Griot Theatre determined that it would become the most accessible theatre in the region. I am a griot, a storyteller. In sharing my story, I hope to make clear why I believe Griot Theatre is an important addition to the American theatre landscape, and why it is so relevant to the hearing loss community. To begin this journey, our first season will kick-off on Thursday, October 4th with a fresh and original take on William Shakespeare’s JULIUS CAESAR. The Los Angeles community and even supporters around the country are excited about what we’re doing and what we can become. Donations have been coming in since the beginning of this year from people who want to be sure that this endeavor is successful, and that a fully accessible professional theatre in Los Angeles is realized. As a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, we rely on individual donors to operate – and we thank them for their support. But we need more. We’ve partnered with Theatre Encino to house our initial production, and in order to “loop” the space we’ll need to spend roughly $12,000. This figure includes the purchase of micro-phones for each of the actors to wear. Because we intend to provide captions for more than just one performance, we’ll be purchasing our own captioning system and software at just under $5,000. That’s roughly $17,000 that we’ll need to raise to assure that Griot Theatre is accessible to people with hearing loss. This does not include any of the costs to produce the actual play. If you’re wondering how you can contribute to our artistic and accessibility goals there are a couple of options. Those who are near Los Angeles may attend our Wine Tasting and Silent Auction titled “A Night of Spirits” on Saturday, August 18. Those further away or unable to attend may make a tax deductible donation online or by check. To learn more please visit www.GriotTheatre.org. We look forward to sharing more stories with you. Malik B. El-Amin, malik@griottheatre.org President, Hearing Loss Association of Los Angeles Artistic Director & Co-Founder, Griot Theatre of the West Valley

MIXED COUPLES PANEL DISCUSSION

By Dr. Alison Freeman It is common knowledge that the divorce rates among hearing and hard of hearing couples are significantly higher than hearing couples. Typical statistics about the divorce rate among mixed couples where one is hearing (H) and the other is hard of hearing (HOH) range from 66% to 95%. Upon closer inspection, how-ever, many of these statistics are based on old studies made in the 1960’s and 1970’s. In those days, there wasn’t the kind of awareness and acceptance of hearing loss that we see today. Today, technology lets us traverse between the two worlds with much greater ease with the internet, text mobile devices, cochlear implants and captioned movies. While this is not to say mixed couples don’t have unique challenges, the reality is that there is little difference, if both partners work together on making their relationship work. In July, the Los Angeles Chapter had their second panel of mixed couples sharing how hearing loss affects their relationship. There were five couples ranging in age from their 20’s, to their 50’s with the shortest relationship being 2 years and the longest, 23 years. I moderated the discussion with questions regarding their challenges, strengths and how they handle a variety of social situations. So, what makes a successful relationship? The 5 Factors in a “CHACH” Successful Relationship are: Communication, Honesty, Awareness and Sensitivity, Compromise, Humor. Communication Communication, communication and communication. All couples talked about the importance of communication and the willingness to be honest with each other. Couples who are able to talk about how hearing loss affects their relationship are clearly more successful than those where feelings are not talked about. Honesty Sometimes, partners in relationships may think that it seems easier not to deal with problems in the relationship and “sweep them under the rug”. The reality is that it takes courage to be honest because we share our feelings, thoughts and vulnerability. We might also worry that if we are honest, we might be hurtful to our partners or that we might be rejected or criticized. Frustration is a common issue for both the hard of hearing and hearing partner. It is important to acknowledge and talk about these feelings, rather than let hidden resentments build up that later can erupt and be far more damaging. Awareness Awareness is a critical component of successful communication. Awareness explains the difference between “hearing” and “listening”. “Hearing” is the physical aspect of understanding what was said, but “listening” requires awareness, sensitivity and at times, clarification. A hearing partner often will not know when the hard of hearing partner really “heard/listened” to what they said or whether they just gave lip service. Hard of hearing partners

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HLA-LA Chapter, Mixed Couples: Joe & Lisa Beth Snyder, Rachel McCallum & Daniel Hebert, Dana Sunderland & Todd Stark, Danny Tubbs & Katherine (Kat) Burns, Lisa Yuan & Thomas Vaillancourt, moderator Dr. Alison Freeman.

admitted that sometimes (myself included) we give lip service because we are too tired to ask for clarification or think it isn’t important enough to repeat. Sometimes the hearing partner talks too softly, or tries to “fix it” or “take over”, i.e. order in a restaurant for both of them rather than to take the time to clarify or let their partner fend for them-selves. In both of these situations, it helps immensely to be sensitive to each other’s need and to give each other the freedom to take a “break”. In any case, all couples, regardless of their hearing status, experience these two aspects of communication, or lack thereof. Compromise All couples acknowledged that compromise was an essential part of dealing with challenges and that there would be times where one would just have to accept that there will be no perfect solution. Often, there is a continuous challenge trying to figure out to how to make each other happy. At times, we question if we are doing too much or not enough for or with our partner. One helpful strategy is to look at a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 compromise formula where both are happy some of the time and it feels more equal, i.e. socialize with DHH friends 1/3, hearing friends 1/3 and a separate “boy’s/girl’s night out” 1/3 (note: this applies to same sex couples as well). Humor The ability to laugh at ourselves is a wonderful skill in dealing with stress. When we can laugh at ourselves, not only is it often an “ice breaker” but it is also reflective of our self acceptance and maturity. As one person said, “sometimes it is funny trying to fill in the gaps with words or consonants and then I end up fabricating a crazy story in my head that no one else is hearing”. Or another partner described telling his wife, “put that in the sack” and she responds quizzically with “the girls are on crack?!” Social Challenges The most common challenge all couples had seemed to be navigating social situations. This is a process which requires constant negotiation for each situation with few good answers. Despite the hearing partner’s patience and attempts to help, the hard of hearing partner learns to “accept” that they will have to be satisfied with grabbing what they can. One effective coping strategy in dealing with challenging social situations includes having a game plan about what will happen before you go to a social event, i.e. how to hint to your partner you need interpreting, creating hand signals to let you

know that you are talking too loud or softly or having an exit strategy when you have had enough. Hearing partners have creative ways of “casually clueing or hinting to insensitive or unaware friends/acquaintances”. For example, a group is discussing a first rate movie that is out, but the captioned movie is not yet available in your area, and you say, “you know, we only go to captioned movies… or in a group where the HOH partner is being left out to say something such as, “she is really good at that too…” to make the other people aware that she is being left out. Several couples have often used sign language to tell their partner what the conversation is about, or they use a great little 99 cent app called “Big Words” for mobile devices that allow you to write down a word and when you type it out, it shows up in big letters. Personality versus hearing loss An interesting question was asked of how much is due to one’s hearing loss versus personality differences. We all agreed that it was difficult to separate the two. For example, several of the hearing partners tended to be “take charge” people. As one partner explained, “I am a problem solver and I try to solve logistical problems such as where would be the best place for my girlfriend to sit (for lipreading/hearing). If my girlfriend wasn’t hard of hearing, I would just find something else to fix!” Age vs Gender Surprisingly, the HOH partner in all the couples were female. It was pointed out that women tend to seek help more frequently and willingly than men despite the reality of fairly equal representation of hearing loss among both men and women. One factor might be due to traditional (and it is important to emphasize “traditional”) perspectives of a HOH man who as a provider might see himself as more “damaged” than a woman and as such, might have a harder time with dating. As one Hearing partner stated, “Communication is a shared responsibility and if someone doesn’t want to talk to you, it is their loss”. This is a wonderful ideal that these lucky couples ascribe to, but the reality is that we often encounter others who are simply not aware or who are insensitive. This is why HLAA exists and why we all need to continually educate others.

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by Marisa Sarto

I was born with a moderate hearing loss. Soon after my first birthday, my small ears were fit with their first pair of hearing aids. Hearing loss greatly influenced my life and shaped my experiences with my friends, family, education and career. Within the world of hearing loss, there is a gray area, perhaps a misfit place, for people who are hard of hearing. It is common for this place to be invisible to the perfect eye and unheard by the perfect ear, yet it is occupied by a live and vibrant community that, to an ability-driven society, appears neither here nor there. My inspiration for the Hear Nor There project comes from my personal experiences within this place where, as a woman growing up with hearing loss, I often felt self-conscious and set apart from others. My initial frustrations and early challenges have grown into the belief that many others who share similar experiences could collaborate and create a project that would show the hearing world--in words and with images - what it’s like to deal with our little understood disability that shapes the day to day lives of all who are hard of hearing. This project will be a documentary monograph, showcasing photographs and stories of individuals of varying ages, ethnicities and genders, and focusing on their challenges of living with a hearing loss. Gallaudet University professor Jack Gannon explained that “Deaf culture is a set of learned behaviors and perceptions that shape the values and norms of Deaf people based on their shared or common experiences.” I believe that this also applies to individuals who are HOH. HOH culture and identity is distinct from that of the Deaf community. Members of the HOH community share a common communication style called speech-reading, instead of sign language. HOH individuals share a strong reliance on the support of technology, such as hearing aids, CIs, ALDs, and the Loop system. Many also rely on captioning in order to enjoy television, movies and live presentations. Members of the HOH community often feel misunderstood by the public because they misunderstand the unique struggles we face, as compared to those in the Deaf community. Using text and pictures, I will guide the viewer through a visual journey representing HOH individuals from all generations who strive to maintain productive and exciting lives despite their hearing loss. I will also show how behavioral

changes in society as well as shifts in technology work hand in hand to improve the quality of life for HOH individuals, their family and peers. The photographs will focus on personal triumphs that may initially seem insignificant to the hearing public, yet which can be and are life affirming to many who are HOH. Subjects will be encouraged to discuss circumstances with which they have personally struggled, such as listening to lectures, participating in group meetings, talking on the phone, watching a movie, ordering in a restaurant, as well as situations in which their hearing loss was less of an obstacle and they could experience almost normal interactions. I hope to document quality of life issues such as financial challenges, effects on relationships and emotional health, embarrassing situations and lost opportunities. Approximately 12% of the U.S. population or 38 million Americans have some form of hearing loss. The decision to do something about hearing loss begins with understanding what is happening. I am committed to creating a transformational change in the knowledge of our community through photojournalism. Every picture will tell a story and celebrate the small victories and challenges that many, if not all, HOH people experience. One day, with each of us taking a step toward a better communal existence, the HOH community will be neither Hear Nor There any more. My New Goal Just recently, I was able to attend the 2012 HLAA Convention in Providence, Rhode Island, on a Starkey Scholarship for first time attendees. This Convention changed my life, and I have never felt more connected. So, in addition to my project, another goal was created. With the other young adults at the convention, a group of us created a declaration. Our pledge is to welcome 100 Young Adults - to be known as the 100 Portland - to the June 2013 HLAA Convention in Portland, Oregon. The 100 Portland initiative was established as a measure to reverse a trend of declining attendance among young HOH adults. The decline in attendance is due to the low return rate of first-time attendees, most of whom received a scholarship to attend. The rigorous efforts of the HLAA Staff to provide generous sponsorships have been central in bringing young adults to the conference; nevertheless, the high-turnover rate and decreasing number of young attendees have indirectly impacted the scheduling and sponsorships for young adult events and scholarships at future conventions. 100 Portland asks young HOH adults to take action on their own behalf and to take responsibility for sustaining their own community presence at the HLAA conference. Facebook group 100 Portland will be the official vehicle for driving this project. Our mission is simply to unite Young Adults at the convention and from there, miracles will follow. Join me for Hear Nor There and/or 100 Portland Marisa Sarto, msarto@marisasarto.com 818-917-9148, www.marisasarto.com

SHARE YOUR HEARING LOSS STORY Seeking HOH Subjects for Documentary Photo-book

Hear Nor There: Images of an Invisible Disability

© Cindy Dyer

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Tram's Barrier. Tram Lai (Massachusetts) struggled with the acceptance of her hearing loss in a culture that easily dismissed differences. In her experience, her hearing loss was looked down upon and considered a superstition. She was once told that her hearing loss was caused by a mistake made in her previous life. As she got older she overcame that belief. Now she says, "It's what you make in this life, not what you did in your past life." Growing up, her family continued to talk about her hearing loss and not enough about her accomplishments; so she was determined to work really hard and prove otherwise. "I have to work extra hard to be better," says Tram. Today she is a successful Laboratory Manager at Suffolk University.

Hear Nor There: Images of an Invisible Disability by Marisa Sarto

Girlfriends. These young girlfriends attended the 2012 Family Camp in Malibu, CA, put on by the House Research Institute every year. This camp provides an environment for children, siblings and parents to connect with other families that face similar issues surrounding pediatric hearing loss. For this group activity, the children were asked to pair up. These two immediately held hands and were inseparable for the remainder of the camp.

Mother-daughter Journey. Despite being born with CHARGE syndrome (a genetic pattern of birth defects which occurs in about one in every 9-10,000 births worldwide), Melissa Paredes (12, California) and her mother, both persevered through the obstacles they faced bringing Melissa to where she is today. Once told that she would never be able to hear or speak, Melissa proves otherwise, with the help of hearing aids, to lead an active life which includes baton twirling and playing soccer.

Viral Zone. A leader in the HLAA D.C. Chapter, Viral Tejani is currently a graduate student at the University of Maryland, studying to become an audiologist. With an undergraduate degree in engineering, he felt it made sense for him to follow audiology to pursue his passion for clinical research. The combination of his engineering knowledge and his personal experience of hearing loss will allow him to contribute to the development of future technology. One frustration he has with his hearing loss is when he attends family/social gatherings in which family members speak in their native language, and often he couldn't understand. One place he is accepting of his hearing loss is at HLAA Conventions and during social outings with friends like Carrie Martin (Tennessee).

© Marisa Sarto © Marisa Sarto

© Marisa Sarto © Marisa Sarto

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2012 Board of Trustees Election

Deadline October 10, 2012

The Hearing Loss Association of California Nominations Committee announces applications will be accepted to fill three Board of Trustees’ positions. An applicant must be a member of HLAA and a resident of California. The term of office is three years with two Board meetings a year in February and August. Information for applying may be obtained online at www.hearinglossca.org or from Jeffrey Chess, Nominations Chair, 3800 Parkview Lane, #9C, Irvine CA 92612-1940, jchess@hearinglossca.org. Send completed applications to Jeffrey Chess, postmarked no later than October 10, 2012.

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By John Waldo Disneyland and the other Disney amusement parks describe themselves as “the happiest place on earth.” Those parks are dedicated to enjoyment. But Disneyland has not always offered maximum enjoyment to disabled visitors, and has taken the position that it need only do what is absolutely necessary. Baughman v. Walt Disney World Co. In a very recent and wonderfully significant case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has told Disneyland that it has been wrong. The court said that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires that they take reasonable steps not just to afford disabled individuals a minimum level of access, but a maximum level of enjoyment. The case is called Baughman v. Walt Disney World Co. The author of the opinion was Alex Kozinski, the chief judge of the circuit, who was also our champion in the landmark Harkins case that ordered theaters to provide equipment to view closed-captioned movies. The issue in the Disneyland case was whether a guest with mobility limitations could use a stand-up Segway scooter during her visit to the park. Disneyland allowed motorized wheelchairs, but it did not permit Segways. Disneyland’s position was that because the guest could use a wheelchair, it was not “necessary” for her to use a Segway, and therefore, the ADA did not require Disney to permit the Segway. A complicating factor here was that Ms. Baughman had previously sued Disneyland not once but three times, and had asked to use a motorized wheelchair. At least one of those cases resulted in what the court called “favorable settlements,” meaning that Disneyland changed its position, paid her money or both. Disneyland argued that Ms. Baughman couldn’t back-track and say that a wheelchair was no longer good enough. The Ninth Circuit agreed that the plaintiff was “moving the goalposts,” so to speak, but said that didn’t matter. What did matter is that the plaintiff preferred using a stand-up Segway, because while she could use a wheelchair, sitting for an extended period of time was uncomfortable, and she preferred to be at eye level with the other patrons instead of at waist level. Those arguments were good enough for the court. Here is what the court said: Nor does Disney dispute that Baughman would feel more comfortable and dignified using a Segway. Disney simply takes the position that, even if Baughman’s access is made “uncomfortable or difficult” by its policies, any discomfort or difficulty she may suffer is too darn bad. Disney is obviously mistaken. If it can make Baughman’s experience less onerous and more akin to that enjoyed by able-bodied patrons, it must take reasonable steps to do so. What is really almost revolutionary about this decision is the emphasis it places on the notion of “full enjoyment.” While the ADA states that “full enjoyment” is a goal, that language has often been dismissed as nothing more than a generalized but impractical statement of good intentions. Indeed, one U.S. appeals court, in a case from Texas, was moved to write: The unvarnished and sober truth is that in many, if not most, cases, the disabled simply will not have the capacity or ability to enjoy the goods and services of an establishment "fully" and "equally" compared to the non-

disabled. … The deaf sometimes enjoy symphonies because they can sense the vibrations of the music. But their enjoyment cannot be full or equal compared to one with hearing, because they are not privy to the full range of sounds that one with hearing is. It is a flawed and unreasonable construction of any statute to read it in a manner that demands the impossible. That passage has always ticked me off in a major way, and demonstrates the cluelessness of a lot of folks. In addition to being incredibly condescending, that judge confuses the concepts of enjoyment and perception. I may not perceive all of the nuances of a Broadway orchestra, yet when I go to a captioned performance and can read the lyrics for the first time, I suspect I enjoy it at least as much if not more than do people who take hearing for granted. Additionally, that quoted passage seems to support the argument I hear quite frequently, namely, that because businesses can’t do everything for people with hearing loss, they should be permitted to do nothing. The Disneyland case didn’t mention this Texas case, but neatly dismissed that court’s rationale. The Disneyland case doesn’t say that a business has to do the impossible. What it says is that the business has to do what is reasonable if doing so increases our enjoyment. By giving considerable emphasis to what we want rather than what we strictly need, the Disneyland case goes considerably farther than the guidelines put out by the federal Department of Justice. Those guidelines have said that private businesses open to the general public, like Disneyland, can select from among various possible accommodations, and can choose the least expensive accommodation. This case seems to say that the business has to do what we ask if doing so is reasonable, even if something else is also reasonable and less expensive. The case also undercuts the argument we sometimes encounter that the business only has to do one thing, and says that if some people want one accommodation and other people want a different one, the business may have to do both. Now what does the Disneyland case mean for those of us with hearing loss? Quite a lot. The case means that we can ask for installed captioning systems instead of hand-held systems, because we would enjoy the event more if we didn’t have to put up with the hassle of checking the devices in and out. We may even be able to ask for limited open-captioned movies. What we will not have to do any longer is accept the argument that sign-language interpretation or amplifying systems are good enough for those of us who need captions, nor, conversely, will people who prefer listening systems have to accept an argument that captioning is good enough for everyone. Along the same lines, the Cinemark movie chain recently entered an agreement with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to provide hearing-aid compatible neck-loops at its theaters in Arizona, even though the theaters in question were already equipped to show closed captions. This is important, because not all movies come with studio-provided captions, and none of the previews are captioned. Also, the closed-caption devices that Cinemark is using require viewers to look down at the captions, which are displayed on individual viewing devices, then back to the screen. While that system seems to work well for people with some hearing, who only need to glance at the captions now and then to see what they

ADA MAY GIVE US “FULL ENJOYMENT”

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may not have heard, the system hasn’t received great reviews from people with more severe losses, who need to look at the captions for everything. The neck loops will feed amplified sounds directly into the telecoils found in most of our hearing aids and cochlear implants, meaning we will get the benefit of increased volume, plus the custom-fitted features of our aids and CIs. This should move more of us into the category of people who can get some dialogue from our hearing, and make the Cinemark captioning devices acceptable for more people. In the wake of the Arizona settlement, I queried Cinemark, AMC and Regal to see if they planned to offer t-coil compatible neck loops nationwide. I am pleased to report that all responded positively. They will not only be deploying t-coil compatible neck loops, but will be developing lobby signage to let patrons know that the loops are available. In the last issue, I discussed the ongoing problem of internet accessibility. Because the ADA was passed before the explosive development of the internet as a means of communication, nothing in the ADA references the internet. The ADA imposes its accessibility requirements on “places,” and the question is whether websites are covered “places.” Netflix. Two recent cases against Netflix for failing to provide captions for much of its on-line streaming video content raise that question directly. One case was filed in California. That case claimed that Netflix was a “place of public accommodation” and was subject to the ADA accessibility requirements. It was quickly dismissed, because the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes California, has said that when the ADA referenced “places,” it meant only brick-and-mortar businesses, not on-line entities. The California plaintiffs then re-filed the case against Netflix. This time, they did not mention the ADA, but claimed only that Netflix was violating California state disability laws. The California state laws apply to all businesses, and forbid them from intentionally discriminating against people with disabilities. Unfortunately, that claim was also dismissed. The court said the plaintiff did not claim that Netflix was intentionally discriminating against them, only that Netlix had a general policy that disproportionately affects people with hearing loss. The court gave them the opportunity to try again. The other Netflix case was filed in Massachusetts, which is not in the Ninth Circuit, and where the decisions that scuttled the California case are not binding. This time, it worked. The trial court said that it would have been irrational for Congress to require that brick-and-mortar businesses be accessible, but not internet sites. It did not order Netflix to do anything, because other issues remained to be decided, but it refused to dismiss the case and set it for trial. Ultimately, the very large question of whether the ADA applies to websites is going to have to be decided nationwide. I understand the argument that if the internet had existed at the time ADA was adopted, Congress would have included websites. But the opposing argument is that the internet clearly exists now, and if that is what Congress wants to do, it can and should do so explicitly. I think a generally conservative Supreme Court would more than likely accept that latter argument. Ultimately, no matter what the Supreme Court does or does not do, I think the question will be decided by Congress. Let’s hope that a lot of the members go to Disneyland. They will enjoy it. Then I hope they agree with the recent Ninth Circuit decision that websites, like other businesses, don’t have to do the impossible, but do have to do what is reasonable to enhance all of our enjoyment.

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NEW – MORE CAPTIONING Live Theatre – Segerstrom

NEW! Captioned performances at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County will begin in October 2012 Tickets in the open captioned section may be purchased by contacting the Ticketing Services Department at (714) 556-2787. If you have trouble ordering tickets for these captioned performances, please contact Ryan Matuska, rmatuska@scfta.org, Senior Manager of Ticket Services. He can answer any individual questions you may have. Here are the dates and times of the open captioned performances at the Segerstrom Center. Memphis Saturday 11-17-12 at 2:00 pm The Addams Family Saturday 12-29-12 at 2:00 pm War Horse Saturday 2-2-13 at 2:00 pm Wicked Saturday 2-23-13 at 2:00 pm Billy Elliot Saturday 4-27-13 at 2:00 pm Flashdance Saturday 5-18-13 at 2:00 pm Catch Me If You Can Saturday 6-29-13 at 2:00 pm Sister Act Saturday 8-17-13 at 2:00 pm Anything Goes Saturday 9-14-13 at 2:00 pm Please support Segerstrom Center for the Arts for the effort they are making to accommodate us, and help spread the word to our hearing loss community. People with hearing loss who have shunned live theatre, need to get back into the theatre-going habit. Hope to see you all at the Segerstrom.

16 The Hearing Loss Californian - Fall 2012

Join the Competition Online Increase Public Awareness and Action for Hearing Loss

Deadline September 30, 2012

The Oticon Foundation and the non-profit Ida Institute have launched a worldwide open call for ideas that have the potential to generate better understanding of hearing loss, change public perception and encourage people to take action. Ideas, Speak up - Action and Awareness for Hearing Loss is an open innovation competition, funded by the Oticon Foundation and facilitated by the Ida Institute. The idea competition is designed to involve hearing care professionals, students, patients, families and the general public to submit their original ideas online for awareness projects that have the potential to affect change locally and/or globally, are simple and cost-effective and inspire people to action. Why is such a competition needed? More than 250 million people worldwide have hearing loss and 80 percent go untreated. Many attempts at raising awareness have been tried in the past and yet none have had any lasting impact. Hearing loss has high costs both individually and for society. Past negative images and stereotypes prevent people from seeking solutions. Hearing loss will continue to affect an ever greater number of people due to an aging population. Unacknowledged and untreated hearing loss is linked to health problems, stigma, job loss and social exclusion. Now is the time to make a difference by coming up with ideas to increase public awareness. So don’t wait. Speak up, share, vote, win. Go to www.awarenessforhearingloss.com, and post your ideas. If you Click ideas, you can read already submitted ideas. Until September 30, 2012, ideas will be shared online at www.awarenessforhearingloss.com and commenting and voting will take place. From October through February 2013, implementation plans for the top-ten ideas will be developed. In February, an expert panel of judges, made up of thought leaders in a variety of hearing and health care, innovation and communication disciplines, will select three winning ideas that will be announced at the April 2013 American Academy of Audiology Conference in Anaheim, CA. Each prize winner will receive a round trip airline ticket to Anaheim, CA, three nights stay at a hotel, a subsistence stipend and entry to the AAA Conference. About the Oticon Foundation Founded in 1957, the Oticon Foundation funds social and educational programs, publications, conferences, cultural activities and campaigns - both for researchers, hearing care professionals and the general public. The Foundation supports the needs of hearing impaired individuals as well as organizations that serve people with hearing loss. About the Ida Institute Established in 2007 with a grant from the Oticon Foundation, the Ida Institute is a non-profit independent educational institute located in Copenhagen, Denmark. The Institute seeks to foster a better understanding of the human dynamics associated with hearing loss, by serving as a catalyst for knowledge sharing and

the development of innovative and practical tools. Marisa Sarto (see page 5) entered her photojournalism idea, Hear Nor There, in the competition. Following is Grace Tiessen’s entry, Hearing loss is a public health issue. Please VOTE. Use the search bar to find the idea you want to vote for, open it. At the top there will be 5 stars. Click on the stars. I want to make the case that Hearing loss is a Public Health Issue; that everyone throughout their lives should have their hearing

tested; that audiologists and doctors must collaborate and prescribe

hearing aids or CIs and follow up. I am profoundly hard of hearing and wear two Cochlear Implants. I get annual checkups to get a report on my health. For years I was told my health was excellent when in fact I was in poor psychological health. I was anxious, under stress, withdrawn, isolated. I had trouble with my close relationships. It was impossible for me to go to school or work. My three children, now in their fifties, with a family history of hearing loss, have never had their hearing tested. In 2012, I went to a Research Symposium at the Hearing Loss Association of America Convention, How the Brain makes sense of the World of Sound, and learned 85% of people who need hearing aids do not get them in the

US and the UK (free hearing aids). So money is not the problem. There is a strong connection between dementia and untreated

hearing loss with a 32% faster rate of cognitive decline in people with hearing loss vs. normal hearing. The representation of speech within the brain breaks down

with sensorineural hearing loss. The Solution. Hearing must become part of our medical record with our primary care physician, just like cholesterol, blood pressure, mammograms, vaccinations, family history of disease. There must be a mandated schedule of hearing tests (an audiogram), and mandated follow-up. Testing at birth, at ages 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20 and then every five years for life. How to implement this? Next time I go for my annual checkup, I am going to give the above information to my primary care doctor. I am going to suggest to everybody on my Facebook page that they do the same. The American Academy of Audiologists, Hearing Loss Association of America and American Speech-Language-Hearing Association must work to have this passed into law. Testing at birth is already mandated. Expand this to mandated life long testing of hearing and mandated followup.

RESOURCES FOR HEARING LOSS QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS Hearing Loss Resource Specialists Jennifer Stuessy, Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness (GLAD), Los Angeles 323-478-8000, jstuessy@gladinc.org Marisa Musso, Deaf Counseling Advocacy and Referral Agency, SF Bay Area 510-255-0759, marisa.musso@dcara.org Pauline Gaeta, Center on Deafness

Inland Empire (CODIE), Riverside 951-275-5000, pgaeta@codie.org

Colette Noble, Sacramento 916-340-5493, cnoble@gmail.com

Sr. Ann Rooney, Burlingame annrooney@sbcglobal.net

Bruce Harris, Berkeley bjharris@ieee.org Valerie Stern, LCSW, Sunland Psychotherapist - hearing loss and grief, certified equine assisted psychotherapist 310-936-0939, www.valeriesternlcsw.com Alison Freeman, PhD, West LA. Sherman Oaks Psychologist - hearing loss, trauma and crisis counseling, stress management and teletherapy, 310–712-1200, www.dralisonfreeman.net For Parents Independently Merging Parents Association of California (IMPACT) Parent group focused on securing the best for children regardless of methodology,

www.impactfamilies.org Nationwide, www.handsandvoices.org

Oral Deaf Education, Oraldeafed.org Free Parent handbook, DVD, videos Education Helen Walter

hwalter1@dc.rr.com, 951-849-6713 For Youth Training and Advocacy Group (TAG), LA A self-advocacy group for deaf/hard of hearing children and teens. www.tagkids.us HEAR YA NOW. Young Adults Group

Social events, online community www.hearyanow.tumblr.com

Cochlear Implants Cochlear Americas www.cochlearamericas.com Med El www.medel.com Advanced Bionics www.advancedbionics.com House Research Institute 213-483-4431, www.hei.org Research on hearing loss and vestibular disorders. Clinics The HEAR Center, Pasadena Hearing/speech therapy, Community out reach, hearing aid dispensing. All ages, www.hearcenter.org, 626-796-2016 House Ear Clinic, Los Angeles

213-483-4431, www.hei.org Cochlear implant services

Stanford University Cochlear implant services cochlearimplant@stanford.edu, 650-736-4351 www.med.stanford.edu/ohns Hearing and Speech Center, San Francisco 415-921-7658, info@hearingspeech.org www.hearingspeech.org Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Pediatric hearing loss 650-498-2738, jwinzelberg@lpch.org John Tracy Clinic Pediatric hearing loss, free services world wide www.johntracyclinic.org, 213-748-5481 Oberkotter Foundation Pediatric hearing loss, free materials, oral schools, www.oraldeafed.org Financial Aid Audient Alliance audientalliance.org, 206-838-7194 Let them Hear Foundation, Palo Alto 650-462-3143, http://www.letthemhear.org Career Counseling/Employment Services HLAA Employment Toolkit

Interview strategies; hearing loss and ADA; communication tips; insurance coverage for hearing aids. www.hearingloss.org/ advocacy/Employment.asp#jobtoolkit

GLAD/EDD GLAD/Employment Development Dept www.gladinc.org 213-478-8000, info@gladinc.org Vocational Rehabilitation provides service for clients who meet eligibility requirements. Assistance with hearing aids and devices may be provided to clients who need such devices to secure or retain employment. http://www.dor.ca.gov Deaf/Disabled Telecomm Access (DDTP) Administrative Committee (TADDAC) Colette Noble (Hard of Hearing) 916-340-5493, cnoble@gmail.com Nancy Hammons, (Late Deafened) hammonsn@aol.com Chriz Dally, (Deaf) ChrizDally@comcast.net Equipment Program (EPAC) Brian Winic (Hard of Hearing), lovetwohear@aol.com Richard Ray (Deaf), rlrayada@aol.com Ken Rothschild (Deaf) KSRothschild@gmail.com Vacant (deaf/blind) Free Telephones (CTAP) www.ddtp.org/ctap Lawyers David Grey, david@greyslaw.com Special education law John Waldo, john@wash-cap.com Captioning of movies/theatre Gaylord & Nantais, gaylordnantais.com Hearing Loss Claims

Online Videos HLAA, www.hearingloss.org/learn/ hearingloss_vids.asp Listen and Speak, children www.oraldeafed.org/movies/index.html Captions Captioned movies search engine Captionfish.com Captioned Netflix instant library www,phlixie.com Captioned videos of world’s leading thinkers. TED.com Captioned/looped theatre Griot Theatre, griottheatre.org

How to get Real Time Captioning Captioning for workshops, lectures, courts Arlene Patton, arlepatton@aol.com, 626-337-8331 Captioning at College Colette Noble 916-359-1893, cnoble@gmail.com Assistance Dogs for hard of hearing/deaf Canine Companions for Independence www.cci.org 800-572-2275 Sam Simon Foundation www.samsimonfoundation.com, 310-457-5898 Other Resources Lip reading classes www.hearinglossca.org Aural Rehab Group for CIs, San Diego Mellisa Essenburg, M.S., CCC-SLP mellisaslp@yahoo.com, 858-232-5842 www.SanDiegoSpeechPathology.com Hearing Aids 101 Info about all brands of hearing aids www.hearingaids101.com Better Hearing Institute Educates the public and medical profession on hearing loss, its treatment and prevention, 202-449-1100, www.betterhearing.org Living and Coping with Hearing Loss by Sam Trychin samtrychin@adelphia.net www.trychin.com Hearing Loss Network & Web www.hearinglossnetwork.org www.hearinglossweb.com larry@hearinglossnetwork.org Hearing Loss Help E-zine

www.hearinglosshelp.com neil@hearinglosshelp.com

Deafness in Disguise A fascinating look at the history of hearing devices. beckerexhibits.wustl.edu/did

The Hearing Loss Californian - Fall 2012 17

HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA CHAPTERS Ventura County Chapter - Thousand Oaks Ruth Pealer, ruth_6572@sbcglobal.net 805-526-9845 Anni Settingsgard, hlaanni@aol.com Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of Ventura County

Is your chapter on Facebook? Social networking has become the way to do outreach, get your projects known and recruit new members. Danny Tubbs metromann@yahoo.com of the HLA-LA chapter will be glad to help you set it up. Find a chapter near you: hearinglossca.org/northern-chapters or hearinglossca.org/southern-chapters Please join us. Meet others who are facing the challenge of everyday life with a hearing loss. Meetings are free and informal. Bring a friend or family member. Everyone is welcome. Hearing loss is a daily challenge you can overcome. You do not have to face hearing loss alone. No chapter near you? Our Chapter Coordinators will help you to set up a local group. No. CA Chapter Coordinator

Cindy Jagger,707-422-3753 cjagger@hearinglossca.org

Southern CA Chapter Coordinator Nanci Linke-Ellis,

nanci@linkeellis.com 310-922-3884 cell 310-829-3884 phone

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA Northern CA Chapter Coordinator Cindy Jagger cjagger@hearinglossca.org 707-422-3753 Diablo Valley Chapter-Walnut Creek Ann Thomas HLAADV@hearinglossdv.org 925-264-1199 www.hearinglossdv.org Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of America-Diablo Valley East Bay Chapter - Oakland Bruce Harris, bjharris@ieee.org 510-473-7905 Peter Townsend Peterg.townsend@gmail.com 510-524-6469 Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association East Bay Chapter Monterey Bay Chapter - Monterey Walt Beam, 831-375-4418 HLAAMontereyBay@gmail.com Napa Valley Chapter - Napa Jeannine Scott jneen@napanet.net 707-257-0509 Peninsula Chapter - Redwood City peninsula@hearinglossca.org Marjorie Heymans 650-593-6760 www.hearinglosspen.org Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of America - Peninsula Chapter Sacramento Chapter Kathleen Bowers President@hlasac.com 415-355-4050 www.hlasac.com Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of Sacramento San Francisco Chapter Kenny Andrews Kennyandrews6@gmail.com 707-291-9709 Shasta County Chapter - Redding Sharon Hunter sleehunter@sbcglobal.net 530-242-1574 Silicon Valley Chapter - San Jose Judy Cordy, 408-923-9205 jacordy@aol.com Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of Silicon Valley

Woodland Chapter - Woodland/Davis Clare Childers hearherewoodland@gmail.com 530-662-5102 hearherewoodland.blogspot.com SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Southern CA Chapter Coordinator Nanci Linke-Ellis nanci@linkeellis.com 310-922-3884 cell 310-829-3884 phone Beaumont Chapter Sandi Streeter s.streeter@surfcity.net Barb Tucker 909-725-1993 Escondido Chapter Dorothy Wormser, dorthi@cox.net Sylvia Hedlund, 760-745-5408 www.hearinglossescondido.org Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter - Lakewood Gail Morrison, gailgo2@msn.com 562-438-0597 www.hlalongbeachlakewood.org Los Angeles Chapter Malik B. El-Amin ThatMFA@gmail .com 917-450-9587 www.hla-la.org Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of Los Angeles Mission Viejo Chapter Pril Kirkeby, pwkirkeby@cox.net 949-855-6786 San Diego Chapter Larry Sivertson, lsivertson@juno.com www.hearinglosssandiego.org Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of America - San Diego San Fernando Valley Chapter – Encino Phil Kaplan, philillini@aol.com Dial 711 then ask for 818-368-1303 Santa Barbara Chapter Claudia Herczog, czog16@gmail.com 805-684-2788 Bonnie Adams, adams@silcom.com 805-968-2777 Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of Santa Barbara South Coast Chapter - Irvine Lorraine Fanizza lorraine.fanizza@hearinglossscc.org www.hearinglossscc.org

18 The Hearing Loss Californian - Fall 2012

Board of Trustees

Jim Montgomery, (CI) President Diablo Valley Chapter

Jmontgomery@hearinglossca.org Co-Vice Presidents Debbie Clark (Hearing) Peninsula Chapter dclark@hearinglossca.org Ellen Mastman (Hearing) Peninsula Chapter emastman@hearinglossca.org

Maxine Barton, Secretary, (CI) Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter mbarton@hearinglossca.org

Jeffrey Chess, Treasurer Orange County Chapter jchess@hearinglossca.org

Lynne Kinsey Silicon Valley Chapter lkinsey@hearinglossca.org

Audrey Maloney (Hearing) amaloney@hearinglossca.org

Gail Morrison Long Beach/Lakewood Chapter gmorrison@hearinglossca.org Susan Shaffer (2 CIs) sshaffer@hearinglossca.org

Don Senger, Emeritus (CI) Diablo Valley Chapter, dsenger@hearinglossca.org

No. CA Chapter Coordinator Cindy Jagger, ex officio (2 CIs) 707-422-3753 cjagger@hearinglossca.org

So. CA Chapter Coordinator Nanci Linke-Ellis, ex officio (2 CIs) 310-922-3884 cell 310-829-3884 phone nlinke-ellis@hearinglossca.org

National Board of Trustees Margaret Wallhagen, ex officio Meg.wallhagen@nursing.ucsf.edu

FOUNDER Howard E. “Rocky” Stone, 1925-2004. In 1979, Rocky Stone founded the organization as Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH). Renamed Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) in 2006. JOIN US! Membership includes national and state memberships, Hearing Loss Magazine and The Hearing Loss Californian newsletter. Rates are $20 Student, $35 Individual, $45 Couple, $60 Professional. For international and corporate rates, please visit www.hearingloss.org. Please make check out to HLAA and send it to Hearing Loss Association of America, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814 (include name/mailing address/zip code/email/phone) OR you can join on line at www.hearingloss.org/membership/renew.asp. HEAR YA NOW is a network of young adults in California ages 18-40. We aim to unite young adults with hearing loss through social events and an online community where information is exchanged about resources, support, advocacy, and scholarship opportunities. Join our active Facebook discussion group HEAR YA NOW: http://www.facebook.com/groups/hearyanow. In order to join, email us at hearyanow@gmail.com with your name, brief hearing loss story, and why you want to join HEAR YA NOW. Website: www.hearyanow.tumblr.com; Twitter: www.twitter.com/hearya_now; YouTube: www.youtube.com/hearyanow

HLAA CREDIT CARD. Support HLAA with every purchase you make! Apply today! www.CardLabConnect.com/hlaa SUPPORT BRENDA BATTAT & HLAA. Please join the Premier Club by giving an ongoing monthly pledge of $20 or more. Premier Club donations help HLAA predict their financial resources more reliably and manage their expenditures more wisely. ITINERANT TEACHERS OF HOH/D support your graduating seniors in their transition from high school by giving them a FREE trial subscription to The Hearing Loss Californian. Please send student name/mailing address/zipcode/email to gtiessen@hearinglossca.org. FREE trial subscription to The Hearing Loss Californian. Please send your name/mailing address/zipcode/email to Grace Tiessen, 714 Prospect Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91103, gracetiessen@gmail.com. FREE. Hearing Health magazine, a quarterly publication of Deafness Research Foundation. Sign up on line at http://www.drf.org. HLA-California publishes The Hearing Loss Californian quarterly in mid February, May, August and November. The newsletter is available through mail, and on line at www.hearinglossca.org/current-newsletter or www.hearinglossca.org/past-issues. Demographics. Our database consists of 5300 records--1250 California HLAA members; 1345 California audiologists; 1350 California Hearing Aid Dispensers; Dept of Rehabilitation HoH/D counselors; Itinerant Teachers of the HoH/D; Office of Deaf Access outreach centers; members of the Association of Late Deafened Adults; Kaiser Permanente audiologists; members of AG Bell Assn for the D/HoH; Costco Hearing Aid Centers; HEARx Hearing Aid Centers; Sonus Hearing Aid Centers and others interested in hearing loss issues. Editor: Grace Tiessen, gtiessen@hearinglossca.org Layout: Lisa Rettino, leftylisa63@yahoo.com Webmaster: Vacant Contributions are eligible for income tax deductions as provided in Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service Code.

Mention of goods and services in articles or advertisements does not imply endorsement, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.

Any portion of this newsletter may be reprinted or disseminated, as long as credit is given to the individual author or to this publication. Submissions for the Winter 2012 issue are due no later than October 15, 2012, and should be sent to gtiessen@hearinglossca.org. Inclusion and/or editing will be at the full discretion of the Editor.

The Hearing Loss Californian - Fall 2012 19

Hearing Loss Association of America The Nation’s voice for people with hearing loss.

Hearing Loss Association of America opens the world of communication to people

with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy.

The national support network includes the Washington, D.C. area office, 14 state organizations, and 200 local chapters.

Our clear, straightforward message has changed the lives of thousands of people.

Hearing loss is a daily challenge you can overcome. You do not have to hide your hearing loss. You do not have to face hearing loss alone.

HLAA: www.hearingloss.org

HLA-CA: www.hearinglossca.org Facebook: Search for Hearing Loss Association of California

Who We Are Hearing Loss Association of California (HLA-CA) is a state association affiliated with Hearing Loss Association of America. Residents of California who join our national organization automatically become members of HLA-CA. Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is an international, non-sectarian, educational, consumer organization of hard of hearing people, their relatives and friends. It is devoted to the welfare and interests of those who cannot hear well but are committed to participating in the hearing world. Hearing Loss Association of America 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200 Bethesda, MD 20814 (301) 657-2248 Voice (301) 657-2249 TTY (301) 913-9413 Fax info@hearingloss.org

Grace W. Tiessen 714 Prospect Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103 gtiessen@hearinglossca.org

Address Service Requested

HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF CALIFORNIA A Hearing Loss Association of America

state association supporting chapters throughout California

Hearing Loss is a Leading Public Health Issue

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