Author: admin

Advocacy

Communications, Video and Technology Accessibility Act

- by admin

CVTA iconOn July 25, 2023, Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA-16) reintroduced the Communications, Video and Technology Accessibility Act (CVTA) bill in Congress, to update digital accessibility for current technologies. HLAA advocated and fully supports this important modernization of the original 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA), which was signed into law in 2010.

Your help is needed to pass this critical legislation. Urge your representatives to support CVTA today!

Visit our CVTA Action Guide

We are calling on our HLAA leaders, members, families, friends and the entire hearing loss community to encourage members of Congress to co-sponsor and support the passage of CVTA. This may sound familiar, since we first notified our leaders about the CVTA Act in late 2022. And now is the time to move this bill forward!

Our advocacy Action Guide includes a downloadable letter template. After sending yours, please help us get this message out by sharing widely to your email and social media networks, letting them know that CVTA will enhance communications, video and technology accessibility for all individuals with disabilities, including hearing loss.

Tell your Congressmembers that people with hearing loss should not be left behind when it comes to taking full advantage of today’s technology. We need this bill passed!
TAKE ACTION TODAY

Best regards and in gratitude,

Lise Hamlin
Director of Public Policy
Hearing Loss Association of America

Walk4Hearing

New England Walk4Hearing – Oct 1st – Join Us!

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The New England Walk4Hearing is fast approaching!

The Walk4Hearing is the only nationwide event bringing attention to hearing loss and promoting the importance of hearing health.  Funds raised support HLAA’s national awareness and education programs, our local chapter, and other alliance organizations that help promote awareness of hearing health within our communities.

Our team name is HearatBoston; ourTeam Captain is Sue Schy.  Go to HearatBoston to join our team – to walk and fundraise with us – or just to make a donation.  Donations are made by clicking on a walker’s name or Sue Schy the Team Captain.   Everyone is welcome to walk with us and we are grateful for all donations received.

Participating in the Walk4Hearing means sharing experiences, learning each other’s stories, making memories, and walking together on our journey towards better hearing health.  Our Walk is one of many other walks throughout the country with others who understand what it is like to live with hearing loss.

Did you know that one in seven Americans are living with some degree of hearing loss? Hearing is an important part of overall health and the Walk4Hearing calls on all of us to take action.  Let’s walk together to be heard!

We hope many of you will come out to walk or just say hello. 

Walk Details

Sunday, October 1, 2023
Location

Artesani Park
1234 Soldiers Field Rd
Brighton, MA
Map It!

Schedule

10:30 a.m. Registration Starts
11:30 a.m. Stage Presentation
11:45 a.m. Walk starts
(5K/3.1 miles)

Chapter Meeting / Walk4Hearing

HLAA Boston Chapter Newsletter – August 2022

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Check out the latest news and updates from HLAA Boston Chapter!

Newsletter HLAABoston

We hope to see you soon as we launch meetings starting October 2nd immediately following the annual New England Walk4Hearing. You do not need to walk to attend the meeting but please check out Walk info at https://www.walk4hearing.org/site/SPageServer/?pagename=locations

Happy rest of your summer!

-Liz Olson
volunteer leader for HLAA Boston Chapter

Advocacy / Hearing Aids / In the Media / Legislation

BIG News! OTC Hearing Aids coming this fall

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HLAA Makes News as Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids Move Closer to Store Shelves

On Tuesday, August 16, The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released the final rule for hearing aids sold directly to consumers, without a prescription. This will open the market to a new class of devices for adults with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Executive Director Barbara Kelley is featured on many top media outlets as the news breaks. She talks about why HLAA supports this additional pathway to hearing health care.

While these devices aren’t for everyone, it’s an exciting step to help some treat hearing loss sooner.

HLAA Press Release (will open new page)
Chapter Meeting / Events

PATIO PICNIC PARTY II – Saturday June 18, 2022 from 12 – 3

- by admin
PATIO PICNIC LUNCH PARTY!

DON’T MISS IT! BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Boston Chapter HLAA – IN PERSON PICNIC – Saturday, June 18th from 12:00 – 3:00 pm
We are meeting outside and in person!!!

With special guest Alex Westner and his wife, Marilyn, creators of Xander caption glasses.

Join us for BBQ lunch, socializing, and learning from peers living with hearing loss.
Hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled veggies,  and drinks will be provided

WHERE?

The patio is behind 175 Harvey St. at Cornerstone / Cambridge

RSVP

Please RSVP to hearatboston@gmail.com:
o How many people are coming?
o Vegetarian or other food preference (if any)
o If you want to/plan to bring dessert or appetizer

COVID

Are you up to date with COVID (vax/ booster)?  Although we will be meeting outside, it is strongly recommended that you do a rapid test prior to arrival.

DIRECTIONS

By car: Please note #175 isn’t on the street. For parking- ignore the “permit parking only” signs because the city has granted an exemption on Harvey and Jackson. Walk up the driveway and the common house is to your right. The patio is on the left side of the common house. From Route 2, the Cornerstone buildings are straight ahead at the end of Jackson.

By the MTA:  Take the red line to Alewife, the last stop. There are exits on both ends of the platform: take the Russell Field/North Cambridge exit. Walk straight so the exit door is behind you and turn left before the field house. Follow the path around two sides of the field to the exit. When you exit onto the street Cornerstone is across the street on your left. Walk down the row of townhouses and turn left on the driveway between #181 and #173. The common house is on your right. It’s about a five-minute walk.

By #77 bus: If heading north toward Arlington: Get off at Cameron Ave. Cross Mass Ave at the light. If heading south toward Harvard Square: Get off at Cedar. You are now at Harvey St. Walk down Harvey St. almost to the end.

You will see two townhouses on the right (#171 and #173). Just past the two townhouses, turn right into the driveway. Our building, #175, is the four-story one to the right.

Map:

https://www.google.com/maps/place/175+Harvey+St,+Cambridge,+MA+02140/@42.3977848,-71.1378756,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89e377048bbe3c29:0x900474e6d57324ce!8m2!3d42.3975022!4d-71.1354104?hl=en

Living with Hearing Loss / Technology / Uncategorized

Bluetooth: The Hopeful Future of Hearing Technology (Virtual) March 5th 4-6pm

- by admin

DON’T MISS IT! The Boston Chapter HLAA will host a Virtual Meeting to explore how bluetooth is changing the game for hearing technology. Join us to learn more!

Bluetooth: The Hopeful Future of Hearing Technology

Learn about upcoming Bluetooth LE Audio, dealing with frustrations, and persevering around technology.
We may sing “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” but we can try everything to see if we get what we need.

presented by Andrea Kaneb
hearing technology educator, advocate, and author
Gathering Sound

Saturday, March 5th
4-6pm
via Zoom

Zoom link to be sent to mailing list members closer to the date.
Newcomers are welcome – please email hearatboston@gmail.com

Join us to learn and socialize with peers living with hearing loss.

 

Advocacy / Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) / Legislation

Know Your Rights to Access! Legal Advocacy Presentation (Virtual) Jan. 22nd 4-6pm

- by admin
HLAA- Boston’s January 22nd presentation will feature Dr. LeWana Clark from the Disability Law Center whose mission is “To provide legal advocacy on disability issues that promote the fundamental rights of all people with disabilities to participate fully and equally in the social and economic life of Massachusetts.”
LeWana will tell us a little about the organization and what she does there.  She’d like to get questions and feedback, and ideas on how they can be of help.
And, if time allows, our own Carol Agate will talk about problems she has run into with advocacy, including early voting, jury discrimination, CART, and requests for ALDs at events.
Link to be sent to mailing list members closer to the date.  Newcomers – please email hearatboston@gmail.com