HLAA Boston H.A.T. Party
Andrea Kaneb took detailed notes and has given us a great summary of Saturday’s HAT presentation of our favorite devices at the Watertown Public Library. And, you can see that the spirit was high and we are all “in the groove” with our colorful hats.
Favorite Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT) devices:
Remote Microphones:
- Phonak Roger Easy Pen
- Oticon ConnectClip
- Phonak ComPilot 11
- Phonak Table Mic 11 (can network two together, turn volume all the way down on hearing aid app)
- Resound Multi-Mic
- Remote mics used in a group can become a “talking stick,” which makes following discussions easier
Smart Phone Apps (free):
- Caption Call
- FaceTime (can lipread grandchildren)
- InnoCaption (many people like it)
- Live Transcribe- Android phones (many people like it)
- Otter- iPhones (many people like it)
- Sound Amplifier app
- Telephone speakerphone helps to hear with both ears
Alerting Devices:
- Bluetooth phone to both hearing aids
- LifeTone bedshaker (might be free from your Fire Department)
- Serene Innovations Bedshaker (great if power goes out)
- Serene Innovations CentraAlert Wearable Vibrating Personal Notification Receiver
- Serene Innovations Home Notification System (many types of alerts)
- Serene Innovations Instalink Smartphone Alert Watch
Wired listening devices (instead of neckloops, which require positioning):
- Music Link ear hooks for music, audiobooks, etc.
- T-Link ear hooks for inline mic for phone
- Cozy Phones headband with removable wired headphones that magnetically adhere to CI implants
Things people DO NOT like about Hearing Assistive Technology:
- Many people are overwhelmed by it and wish it was easier, more universal, or that more education was provided.
- Hearing aid remote control apps are cumbersome and some people think you are rudely using your phone.
- Table mics don’t work well if the speaker is walking around.
- Some people think that the Roger Pen is confusing or not worth the cost and others do not.
- Phonak Marvel only accepts 2 Bluetooth devices at a time so you must choose.
- Many devices are not intuitive. People at senior centers can help.
- Alerting devices with separate transmitters can lead to needing to push multiple doorbells.
- Otter can be unreliable at times with weird words.
- Tech can be outdated quickly and unreliable.
- Hearing aids that change programs automatically can be annoying and the user often wants more control.
HLAA Boston Holiday H.A.T. Party, December 7, 2019
Saturday, Dec. 7, 2019, 12 – 2 pm
HLAA Boston Chapter cordially invites you to our Bring in your favorite Hearing Assistive Technology (H.A.T.) for Show and Tell. (You can also bring your least favorite H.A.T.) Be prepared to tell us why you love it or hate it. Wear a colorful hat and you will be eligible to take part in a drawing for prizes!
ASL Night at the Museum of Fine Arts
Liz Olson writes on hearatboston@googlegroups.com:
ASL Night at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) is Wednesday September 25 from 5 to 10, free admission starting at 4 PM.
There are tours and concerts in ASL with English translation.
I understand the divide between Deaf and hard of hearing populations , but I hope you might take an opportunity to learn to sign better, or understand what it is like to rely on translation, or maybe just the quiet atmosphere.
See you there,
Liz O
Welcome Back Ice Cream Social, September 14, 2019
You are invited to the Welcome Back Ice Cream Social meeting of the HLAA Boston Chapter at the Watertown Free Library on Sept. 14, 2019 from 2-4 pm!
In addition to “Make Your Own Sundae”, we will hear about highlights of the 2019 convention, Nancy Sonnabend will reminisce about the early days of HLAA, and we will learn about this year’s Walk4Hearing. CART will be provided, the room is looped, and parking is available. Please join us!
Watertown Free Public Library, Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room on the 1st floor
123 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Access to Courts Legal Justice
Sue Schy writes on hearatboston@googlegroups.com:
From: Hanigan, Ami (MCD) <Ami.H…@massmail.state.
Date: Mon, Sep 9, 2019 at 2:14 PM
Subject: Howard Rosenblum Event: Sept 25
Massachusetts Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has arranged for Attorney Howard Rosenblum, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of the Deaf to come to Massachusetts to present to the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community regarding Access to Courts and Legal justice.
Commissioner Steven Florio would like to invite the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community members and leaders to attend Attorney Rosenblum’s presentation.
Attorney Rosenblum is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of the Deaf. He is also the author of “Communication Access Funds – Achieving the Unrealized Aims of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” Here is a link to his article: https://scholar.
Attorney Rosenblum will be presenting on September 25th from 6:30-8:30 pm at Advocates Inc in Framingham.
Please see attached Flyer for more information. Please RSVP: Alison Fondo 508-503-1227 or Aliso…@massmail.state.
Registration Is Now Open For the ALDA/HLAA Accessible Tour at the MFA on Saturday, September 21
Sue Schy writes on hearatboston@googlegroups.com:
From: Francine Stieglitz <fstiegli@bu.edu>
Date: September 3, 2019 at 9:43:31 AM EDT
To: Francine Stieglitz <fstiegli@bu.edu>
Subject: Registration is now open for the ALDA/HLAA Accessible tour at the MFA on Saturday, September 21
Please join us for our upcoming tour “The MFA and Boston Collectors: 19th Century to Mid 20th Century Paintings.” “The MFA has been fortunate to have many collectors and donors of a wide range of objects over its 149 years. We will focus on an early group of collectors and explore the why, what and where of their collections. As we visit these objects, we’ll understand the impact of these collectors on the American and European permanent collections. It’s an exciting facet of the MFA’s history and growth to the world-renowned museum we have today.”
1. To register, email Ronit Michom at RMinchom@mfa.org or call 617-369-3189.
2. In the subject line, put the name of the tour (MFA and Boston Collectors), the date (September 21), and the time of the tour (10:30 a.m.).
3. Indicate whether you want a neckloop or a head set. If you need only an ALD receiver, please specify . If you plan to use your own equipment and want the guide to wear an additional microphone, then please specify.
4. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get your neckloop and headset and to make sure that they are working.
5. Remember that there is a limit of one guest with you. You must register your guest whether or not an ALD is needed.
6. Tours will leave from the Linde Family Wing Entrance, which is on Museum Road.
7. Email access@mfa.org if you register and are then unable to attend.
8. Registration closes on Friday, September 13 unless the tour fills up before that time.
If you have registered and are unable to attend, please let our tour leader Karen Moss (karmoss@hotmail.com) and Ronit Minchom (RMichom@mfa.org) know via email even if it is the day of the tour.
Please note: If fewer than 6 people register for the tour, the tour will be canceled.
Improve the Quality of Live TV Captions –Comments Needed by September 13, 2019
Sue Schy writes on hearatboston@googlegroups.com:
Please respond to this petition and survey on live television captioning by September 13th. Thanks.
———- Forwarded message ———
From: Francine Stieglitz <fstiegli@bu.edu>
Date: Tue, Aug 27, 2019 at 8:42 AM
Subject: Improve the Quality of Live TV Captions –Comments Needed by September 13 !!
To: Francine Stieglitz <fstiegli@bu.edu>
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Consumer Groups and Researchers Call on the FCC to Improve the Quality of Live Captions
On July 31, Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI), the National Association of the Deaf (NAD), the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA), the Cerebral Palsy and Deaf Organization (CPADO), Deaf Seniors of America (DSA), the Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (DHH-RERC), the Twenty-First Century Captioning Disability and Rehabilitation Research Project (Captioning DRRP), the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Universal Interface & Information Technology Access (IT-RERC), and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to address long-standing quality problems with captioning for live television programming. The petition was supported by the American Association of the DeafBlind (AADB).
As the petition explains, consumers routinely report serious problems with the accuracy, timing, completeness, and placement of captions on live programming, including local news, sports, and weather. The petition asks the FCC to build on its existing standards for the quality of captions by setting metrics for acceptable quality of live captions. The petition also urges the FCC to provide guidance for new captioning systems that use automatic speech recognition, which have the potential to provide captions with improved timing and lower cost but also routinely cause significant accuracy problems. Consumer groups and researchers also will be submitting additional feedback to the FCC, including an analysis of hundreds of consumer responses gathered by HLAA in a recent survey.
We need your help! The FCC has asked for comments from the public about the petition, and it’s important that they hear from deaf and hard of hearing consumers. If you’ve had experiences with captions for live TV programming that you’re willing to share with the FCC, you can do so online.
Submit your comments to the FCC by September 13:
Questions? Contact advocacy@
Accessible Shakespeare performances on the Common this summer
Sue Schy writes in hearatboston@googlegroups.com:
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company (CSC) is pleased to continue its Common Access Initiative as part of its 24th season of “Free Shakespeare on the Common.” Cymbeline runs July 17 – August 4 on the Boston Common. CSC is committed to keeping theatre accessible – financially, geographically, and artistically – as well as inclusive for patrons of all abilities. CSC has offered at least one American Sign Language (ASL) performance nearly every season since its founding in 1996, and in recent years has had the opportunity to meaningfully expand its disability access programming and offerings. At every performance, there are reserved, accessible seating areas for patrons and their guests, in addition to complementary large-print programs and assisted listening devices.
Open Captioned performance: Friday, July 26 (Raindate: Sat, July 27)
Audio Described performance + Tactile Tour: Saturday, August 3 (3pm); (Raindate: Sun, Aug 4)
ASL Interpreted performances: Friday, Aug 2 + Saturday, August 3 (8pm); (Raindate: Sun, Aug 4)
Open-Captioning provided by c2 captioning service will be held on at Friday, July 26 at 8 pm.
Raindate will be Saturday, July 27 at 8pm. Equipment will be set-up of the house left side of the stage.
The Audio-Described performance with interpretation by Cori Couture and Andrea Doane will be held Saturday, August 3 at 3pm; Raindate will be Sunday, August 4 at 7pm. Headsets and Braille playbill will be made available for blind and low-vision patrons, and can be collected at the Information Tent to the left of the stage. In addition to the performance, there will be a free backstage, tactile tour for blind and low-vision patrons and their guests beginning at 1:45pm. No registration is necessary. Guests should meet at the Information Tent a few minutes before the tour is scheduled to begin. CSC staff will be on hand to help guide patrons on the tour.
The ASL-Interpreted performances will be held on Friday, August 2 and Saturday, August 3 at 8pm; Raindate will be Sunday, Aug 4 at 7pm. ASL Interpretation team will include Shana Gibbs as ASL Coach and Christopher Robinson will be returning as Lead Interpreter.
In addition to the programming listed above, there will be many services available at all performances to enhance the patron experience. ADA-compliant cable-guards have been purchased to make all pathways easier to navigate for patrons using wheelchairs and walkers, and there will be several seating areas designated throughout the Common for patrons using wheelchairs and their companions. Finally, large print programs and assisted listening devices will be available at all performances at the Information Tent.