Events

February 15, 2017  8:00pm – 9:00pm

Bio: David C. Baldridge, BGS, MBA Ph.D.

Summary:

This webinar will focus on career success research in the general population, Dr. Baldridge’s current research on career success after hearing loss, and participants’ own employment experiences. We will discuss the types of jobs, tasks, and organizational contexts in which people with hearing loss are more likely to be successful. We will also discuss day-to-day behaviors associated with workplace success, including management of supervisors, coworkers, and accommodations. Guided by Dr. Baldridge’s current research findings, we will discuss post-hearing loss quests for meaningful work and big picture answers to “Who am I?” “Am I still successful?” as well as redefinition of oneself (e.g., I am now both a person with a disability and a successful professional) and career success (e.g., I now care about service to society as much as I care about material success).

Access this webinar.

Bethesda, Maryland–Nashville folk artist Zoë Nutt today announced the release of the video for her new single “Like You,” which invites people to hear her story of living with progressive hearing loss and tinnitus. Zoë is thrilled to partner with the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) and HelloGiggles to unveil the emotionally-driven, captioned video and to use her music as a means to bring a positive message and inspire others for a greater cause. “Like You” can be downloaded via NoiseTrade.

Artist tip proceeds will be donated to HLAA.

Describing the video in her own words, Zoë said:

I am going deaf. And I want people to know. We are all dealing with issues in our lives, but we don’t have to be defined by our problems. I’d rather define my life by how I’m dealing with my problems. It’s a strange feeling to be releasing a music video about losing my ability to hear, but it’s the hand I’ve been dealt and one that I plan to overcome. This music video represents the start of my story and I’m very excited to write the next chapter.

I’m on a timer, and there’s no way to know when my world will go silent, tomorrow or years from now. I was crying over the page in my notebook, finally letting the news sink in. You’re not going to be able to hear. The bulk of “Like You” was written in the fear of that moment. It’s a letter to the children I hope to have one day. It’s been my way to come to terms with not knowing what’s going to happen in the years to come. But releasing this music video has been more than just a letter to a possible future. It’s most importantly the start of a conversation I’ve been longing to have with others. I am going deaf, but I will not let it stop me from making music.

HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley commented, “Congratulations to Zoë on the release of her new video. We are grateful for her generosity, but even more, we know she will reach people of all ages with hearing loss through her music. We wish her great success.”

Go to HelloGiggles today to watch Zoë Nutt’s compelling music video for “Like You.”

More About Zoë Nutt:

Zoë Nutt is a storyteller. She likes to tell stories with music and poignant and meaningful lyrics, but it’s perhaps her vocal interpretation of those words that brings her musical tales to life. Simply put, Zoë Nutt is a voice you will not soon forget. Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee and a graduate of the songwriting school at Belmont University in Nashville, Zoë has a way of quieting a room and hushing those voices in our heads that make it hard to sit and listen, so that all you want to do is hear the next thing she is going to sing. Cruz Contreras of the band The Black Lillies says, “Zoë Nutt has a voice as haunting and seemingly ancient as the East Tennessee hills she hails from. Her lyricism and delivery are poignant, fresh and promising. Like so many great artists, she knows how to mix the new with the old and create music with broad appeal while never compromising her artistic integrity.”

From Heidi Reed, Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MCDHH):

As we know, the mission of the Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) is committed to providing accessible communication, education and advocacy to consumers and private and public entities to that programs, services and opportunities are fully accessible to persons throughout  Massachusetts who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing. The Governor’s House 1 Budget (H.1) was announced this week and funds MCDHH  to continue our mission for FY18  as summarized below.

H.1 line item 4125-0100  allocates $5.6M for MCDHH. This figure is a $243K (5%) increase over FY17 estimated spending, and will fund  MCDHH at a level equal to the FY17 GAA. (General Appropriations Act).

H.1 Snapshot:

•       Level support for Referral, Case Management and Social Services, and Communication  Access Technology & Training Services. These  MCDHH programs provide interpreters and CART services for more than 30,000 requests, provide more than 1,000 families with support for navigating state services,  and train state agencies, elderly services, police, and emergency responders on the needs of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities.

•       Level support for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Independent Living Services (DHILS).  In FY16, DHILS delivered over 23,000 service hours by providing information and referrals, peer mentoring, advocacy and skills training and a variety of independent living skills.

•       Provides Assistive Technology (AT) funding which serves as a last resort for highly vulnerable and elderly constituents who primarily request hearing aids in order to manage progressive and permanent hearing loss. Funding will support approximately 54-55 elderly constituents.

•       Supports collective bargaining and step increases.

•       Includes MCDHH cost savings from  reducing $76K in renegotiated office leases and from 9C cuts of $200K during FY17.

MCDHH will continue to be authorized to have revenue from interpreter fees. Our revenue funds are reinvested for communication access.

4125-0122    Chargeback revenue, capped at $250,000.

4125-0104    Interpreter services Revolving/Trust fund revenue $350,000

We at MCDHH look forward to continued collaboration and partnerships with the Baker administration, the Legislature, and our constituents in our strong commitment to improving accessibility and quality of services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing adults and children throughout the Commonwealth.

Thank you for your dedicated service to the Commonwealth through partnership with MCDHH.

Heidi L. Reed

Commissioner
MA Commission f/t Deaf and Hard of Hearing
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111
Email: Heidi.Reed@state.ma.us
Voice:  617-740-1611
TTY:  617-740-1711
Fax:  617-740-1810
VP     617-326-7546

Tuesday, February 28, 2017 at 7 PM at the Plymouth Public Library

Please come and join us for this smaller meeting HLAA Plymouth Chapter upstairs in the board room to talk about our chapter and share ideas for the future!

Tuesday night, March 21, 2017 at 7 PM at the Plymouth Public Library

Join us to hear from Kevin Franck, an HLAA National Board Member from Concord, Mass to speak on What National HLAA Does For You. 

Here’s a chance to learn about Hearing Loss Association of America and what’s going on at the national level: advocacy, hearing aid benefits, movie captioning, HLAA staff, Hearing Loss Magazine, and HLAA membership.  For more information, go to: HLAA membership benefits. 

Tuesday night, May 23, 2017 at 7 PM at Plymouth Public Library

 Jonathan O’Dell returns to Plymouth HLAA to talk about technology and answer our questions about hearing loss management. 

For information about upcoming events and opportunities to become involved with HLAA Plymouth Chapter, contact Sandy Spekman at sspekman@gmail.com.

Guest Speaker: Valerie Stafford-Mallis

Our next Quiet Restaurant Meetup will be on:

Friday, January 20, 2017
5:30 PM

Maggiano’s Little Italy
4 Columbus Avenue, Boston, MA (map)

 (Ask for Liz/ MeetUp table)

We have requested a table in a more quiet area with good lighting for us and hope we can chat and learn from one another.  Membership to HLAA is not required, though a great resource.

 Parking validations and public transportation available.

Please RSVP  in advance  (lizo87@aol.com) to expedite the appropriate size reservation and let us know if you will arrive late.

Thanks and see you on the 20th!  (Yes, it is Inauguration Day)

Join others with hearing loss of all degrees for a chatty dinner on a Friday night! A social aspect of the Hearing Loss Association of America Boston Chapter, the Quiet Restaurant group strives to create an enjoyable Friday night out with peers despite the challenges of hearing loss.  Striving to find restaurants that will accommodate us with good lighting and private or quieter areas, not to mention allowing us to be the loudest group of all, we hope to enjoy dinner and conversation on the 3rd Fridays of the month!  

A Research Symposium, Breakout Sessions, Awards – and the most fun anyone ever had on a scavenger hunt!

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Research

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