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News & Views
May - June 2015
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The Hearing Loss Association of America exists to open the world of communication
to people with hearing loss through information, support, education and advocacy.
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| Celebrate with Us!
HLAA - NYC CHAPTER
Annual Scholarships and Awards
Program and Reception
Tuesday, June 2nd
5:30-7:30
Muhlenberg Library
209 W. 23 Street, New York City
Lisa Carling and Sid Wolinsky, who have significantly expanded accessibility for people with hearing loss, and high school seniors Tyler Aracena, William Esposito and Carina Sanchez, for their accomplishments and positive approach to the challenges of hearing loss.
Captioning provided by Lauren Schechter, TotalCaption.
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CLAIMING YOUR PASSION . . .
DESPITE A HEARING LOSS
Recap: May 19th Chapter Meeting
Nancy Williams,
founding editor of the online magazine grandpianopassion.com, as well as an award-winning writer and motivational speaker,
started playing piano when she was 11. Around that time, she developed a high-frequency hearing loss, but her parents refused the recommended hearing aid - a decision that left her socially isolated. Her friends, frustrated with her inability to hear whispered secrets, told her she was no longer welcome in their group. That day, when she arrived home, a piano was patiently waiting. As Nancy roamed among the music, the sadness sloughed off her shoulders, back, and arms. Although she didn't realize it at the time, playing the piano was her passion.
Continue Reading
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CUTTING EDGE RESEARCH TO IMPROVE HEARING
Recap: April 21st Chapter Meeting
This program focused primarily on cochlear implants and featured four panelists: Anil Lalwani, MD, Professor and Vice Chair for Research Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, and Director, Cochlear Implantation Program at New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center; Lawrence Lustig, MD, Howard W. Smith Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, New York Presbyterian - Columbia University Medical Center; Mario Svirski, PhD, Noel L. Cohen Professor of Hearing Science, NYU School of Medicine; and Susan Waltzman, PhD, Co-director, NYU Cochlear Implant Center. David Landsberger, PhD, Assistant Professor at NYU, was the moderator.
Click here for details of the presentations.
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LOOPED THEATERS on Broadway!
Hear these musicals through your hearing aids/cochlear implants at the following Nederlander theaters:
Gershwin Theatre
Richard Rodgers Theatre
"Hamilton" (coming soon!)
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
"Finding Neverland"
Also Looped:
"The King and I" at The Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center.
Many thanks to Terry Chayefsky who, since 2011, has worked tirelessly to ensure
accessibility at Lincoln Center.
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ADVOCACY WORKS!
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Ellen Semel, HLAA Member and looping advocate, shares the story of Irene, a 92-year-old who could no longer hear the programs in the Fresh Meadows Library's community room. After reading an article about hearing loops, she contacted the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities. Her call was forwarded to the HLAA-NYC Chapter, which involved Ted Finkelstein from the Human Rights Commission when the Queens Library System said they did not think the small Fresh Meadows branch was a reasonable venue for a hearing loop. Less than six months later, we are happy to report, the Fresh Meadows Library is installing a hearing loop - a win for Irene and other patrons with hearing loss.
Ruth Bernstein, HLAA-NYC Board Member, recently asked the Museum of Jewish Heritage if they would do a hearing accessible tour of their new "Designing Home" exhibition. Her request,which was answered by Liz Edelstein, the Director of Education, resulted in Ms. Edelstein's decision to order a set of hearing devices for patrons with hearing loss.
The Museum of Biblical Art on Broadway and 61st
Street has an exhibition about the work of the Renaissance sculptor Donatello that includes headphones, neck loops, and scripts. Be sure to ask for these accommodations when you visit their
site.
And remember, advocacy works!
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IN BRYANT PARK
The HBO Summer Film Festival, scheduled for Bryant Park on Mondays from June 22 to August 24, will feature captions on two screens, thanks largely to HLAA-NYC board member Toni Iacolucci. Lauren Schechter, the excellent CART provider for HLAA-NYC's board meetings and monthly programs, will provide the captions.
The park is situated in Manhattan between 40th and 42nd Streets and 5th and 6th Avenues. The lawn where the films will be shown opens at 5 for blankets and picnicking. Films begin at sunset (between 8 and 9).
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JOIN HLAA TODAY!
As the nation's leading organization for people with hearing loss, we provide information, education, support, and advocacy for the millions of Americans coping with hearing loss. To join, visit
hearingloss.org/content/join.
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Who Walks? People get involved because either they have a hearing loss themselves or they want to show support for someone they know with hearing loss.
- Parents of children with hearing loss walk as families and meet other parents along the way and share experiences.
- Company teams walk to build workplace camaraderie.
- Alliance groups such as schools for children with hearing loss, hospitals, universities, and other nonprofit hearing-loss-related organizations join the Walk4Hearing to raise money for their own projects.
- Hearing healthcare professionals walk because they support our cause.
SAVE THE DATES!
NYC WAlk4Hearing
KICKOFF
Wednesday, August 12
Battery Gardens
NYC Walk4Hearing
Sunday, September 27 Riverside Park
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| CAPTIONED THEATER PERFORMANCES THROUGH TDF
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BLOG CORNER
Katherine Bouton
Gael Hannan
Shari Eberts
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NY PUBLIC LIBRARY
ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
The Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library is
working to
document the stories of New York City residents living with visual, physical, or other disabilities. For more information, click here.
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ADVOCACY UPDATE FROM HLAA NATIONAL
HLAA works on the national level to make life better for people with hearing loss. You can always read the latest Advocacy News and Updates on our website,
www.hearingloss.org. For more information or comments, email Lise Hamlin, HLAA's director of public policy, at http://hlaa-advocacy.blogspot.com.
The HLAA Board has adopted three new policy statements that are posted on the website's Policy Statements page:
* Medicare Coverage of Hearing Aids and Aural
Rehabilitation.
* Screening for Hearing Loss in Primary Health Care Settings.
* Wider Access to the Full Spectrum of Technology Benefiting People with Hearing Loss.
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Copyright ? 2015. All Rights Reserved.
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HLAA is a volunteer association for people with hearing loss, their relatives, and friends. It is a nonprofit, nonsectarian educational organization devoted to the welfare and interests of those who cannot hear well. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. We are a 501(c)(3) organization. Mention of suppliers and devices in this newsletter does not mean HLAA endorsement, nor does exclusion suggest disapproval.
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