Employment Issues

Workshop on employment issues looked at the difference between the 20^th and 21^st century challenges in the workplace. Whereas meetings used to be face to face, typically now they are distance meetings, conference calls, darkened rooms with power point projected presentations that create serious accessibility challenges. Suggested solutions included things like CART, remote CART, FM system connected to speaker phone among other things.Pat Krikos Ph.D, University of Florida talked about 1000 Ways to Say “HUH?. Her strategies were for partners also. Accentuate the positive, rephrase, repair strategies – all good stuff for knowing how to handle miscommunications due to our hearing loss.

Saturday the excitment continues

 

Its Saturday and a full day of workshops are planned.Tina Childress presented on hearing music with a cochlear implant. She gave some good tips on how to “practice” and allow your brain to get used to identifying melodies, instruments. She recommended starting to listen to familiar songs, search for lyrics on Google and  in CD case inserts. Websites such as www.playmusic.org play a variety of music to train your brain. Likewise on iTunes you can plug in a title and it will come up with a list of different artists playing the same song/tune so you can chose which one you can hear the best. Great ideas to get back to enjoying music. 

 

Terry Portis and his wife Denise had a standing room only workshop talking about Denise’s journey from negative to positive coping strategies.

Alfred P. Murrah Building

April 19, 1995, the day lives were changed forever in OKC and all across the country when the Alfred P. Murrah Building was bombed. A memorial and museum were erected to remember those who were killed, those who survived and those who rushed to help.

A reflecting pool, field of empty chairs arranged in nine rows representing the nine floors of the building where people were working, the rescuers orchard and the survivor tree together form a peaceful, reflective place that captures and preserves forever the place and events that changed the world. The memorial site is walking distance from the convention site.

Day 2…. Friday and awards…

Friday morning started off with one of the most important events at the HLA convention – the awards ceremony where we honor the thousands of volunteers all across the country in state organizations and chapters who give so generously of their time to further the mission of HLA. Jeannette Kanter, NY, and currently an HLA board member, received the Keystone award that is given to those who contribute significantly to the growth and mission of the organization. The Special Friend Award went to Matthew Bakke, of Gallaudet University for his leadership in the field of research and teaching in hearing technology. Weather is still causing lots of travel delays as Matt found out when he could not get here in time to accept his award.  The skies were not so friendly after all.  David Branfield got an advocacy award for bringing CapTel to NY state. Sponsors of the awards ceremony and breakfast was Ultratec and Robert Engelke made opening remarks to welcome everyone.  Ed Obrien for his website, Illinois Cochlear Implant. He offered to help anyone who wants to set up a website. Nice offer! There were too many awards to mention here but we congratulate all the volunteers and thank them for their hard work and dedication.

 Audient, the low cost hearing program, is exhibiting. They now have 700 dispensers in 48 states and are happy with the progress. If you know anyone who needs hearing aids but cannot afford them Audient is an excellent resource. They can be found at

www.AUDIENTalliance.org

Workshops are in full force now starting with Virgi Mills, a health/fitness instructor, providing guidelines on meal planning, restaurant dining and foods to avoid to promote weight loss – tasty samples were given out; apTel demonstations with tips on how to make the most of your phone whether you have one or two lines; ALDs and how to maximize in noise; listening strategies to use to enhance communication in families; and strategies for stress management.

More later…………………………

The Opening Session

The Opening Session just finished. Attendees congregated to see Ultratec presented with the HLAA 2007 Access Award. This company has for decades sought to expand access to telecommunications for people with hearing loss and its about time they were recognized for their innovations in telecommunications. Robert Engelke, the president of Ultratec, accepted the award and said he was humbled by the recognition. Elaine Leander, director of sales for Advance Bionics, that sponsored the Open Session, noted how HLAA and AB share a common vision to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss. As a parent of a child with hearing loss, Elaine is personally aware of the impact and challenges that hearing loss poses to families and how an organization such as HLAA can help navigate through it. Danita Testerman, chair of the OK local organizing committee, welcomed everyone in her snazzy cowboy boots. She encouraged us all to take in all the sights and mentioned Chihuli Glass as not to be missed and the restaurants and stores at Bricktown, close to the convention hotels, as worth a visit.

 

The keynote speaker, charismatic, I.King Jordan, recently retired president of Gallaudet University, talked about his belief in “many different ways of being deaf”.  The protest at Gallaudet that led to the ouster by the Gallaudet Board of Trustees of the new president to succeed King, Jane Fernandez, was led by a group who want everyone to be deaf  like they are and who do not respect that being deaf is unique to the individual who should be the only one to decide how to “be deaf”.

depression is five times more prevalent among people with hearing loss than in the general population!

Did you know that depression is five times more prevalent among people with hearing loss than in the general population? And did you know that depression among family members is 2 and a half times more prevalent? Terry quoted this from a study done  in the UK. This is why our research symposium on Sunday morning is so important. You will  hear a panel talking  about the latest research on the psychosocial effects of hearing loss – something we probably all experience but to have it validated by research is the first step in finding effective interventions.

 

Vic Krause, former state legislator for Michigan, gave a great overview of the MI HLA Day on Capitol Hill that they have put on for the past two years. 175 consumers came out both years to visit with their representatives, talk about issues of major concern – Hearing  Aid Tax Credit, hearing loss and dementia, and interpreter standards, among other things. For the first time in history the legislature was made completely accessible to hard of hearing and deaf people with CART, ALDs and sign language interpreters and a resolution was passed to recognize May as hearing loss awareness month.  This successful day motivated the state leaders to hold similar events in their own states and Vic was on hand to answer questions about the logistics of coordinating such a day.

Sorenson isn’t giving up anything yet this year about plans for new products and services for people with hearing loss.  There are things in the works – could be breakthroughs for people with hearing loss – but their product manager is not ready to divulge exactly what. They are on hand in the exhibit hall, so make sure to visit and see what they are up to. Perhaps you will be more successful at getting them to give you more information than I was!

Nothing like an Oklahoma Sunset

Nothing like an Oklahoma sunset to make you forget all your travel woes.  Lots of people had travel problems on Wednesday trying to get to the convention due to weather or computer crashes depending on which airline was giving you the news.   Some of us landed up flying to Tulsa and driving the 110 miles from there in the beautiful wooded landscape to OKC – we were driven by a family who were also stranded in Tulsa and offered to take us all with them. Wonderful people and a gteat way to be introduced to Oklahoma hospitality.

 The hotels – Sheraton and Renaissance are great, next door to one another and right across from the Cox Center where everything – well almost everything – will take place.

It’s quiet yet, but all the more time to meet the early arrivers, chat in the bar and share “what have you been doing since last year” over breakfast.

The national board meeting is just starting and it will be followed by the business meeting. The board meets at the convention and then twice a year in Bethesda, March and November. Terry Portis, executive director, will give his report to the board and the president, Anne Pope, of New York, will give the “state of the association” report. HLA state leaders are here to attend the board meeting in full force as part of their “state leader’s day”. They will meet this afternoon to catch up with what is going on nationally, and share what is going on in their states. They will also have an update on the advocacy work that HLA is doing.

Off to the board meeting now, more later. At the board meeting the slate of officers was approved with Anne Pope continuing as president, Vic Matsui (VA) vice pres., Pete Fackler, NY treasurer, and Kathy Borzell, FL, Secretary. Dave Crocker was reelected and Dick Melia became a new board member. A great line-up to lead the organization for the next year. 

Ever been to Canada? Or Vancouver specifically? If not now is your chance. The Canadian Hard of hearing Association is hosting the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People Congress next year in Vancouver July 2 -6, 2008. According to Janice McNamara, ex director of CHHA, they have a big group of young adults actively involved in the CHHA who will be networking with their counterparts in Europe, so it should be a fun Congress for all ages.

The HLA Annual Fund table will be in the ante room of the exhibit hall. Funds collected here help HLA to carry out its mission and programs. There will also be a table for those who wish to contribute to the Rocky Stone Endowment fund.

Terry Portis gave his report at the business meeting this morning. He presented the Management Strategy put together by the board to guide HLA for the next 18 months – 2 years. It focuses on a just five priorities: HLA, People with Hearing Loss and their Families, Alliances, General Public and Capacity Building. His main thrust was that in our lifetime we should aim for a more enlightened society about hearing loss and do a better job than we currently do – for every one person we reach there are 3,000 out there that we do not reach.

Terry introduced Denise Porter, his wife, the reason his family got involved in our organization and ultimately why he applied to be the executive director.  She was with the new addition to the Portis family, Chloe, her new hearing dog.

Don’t forget our virtual chapter on Wednesday nights and for chats go to www.myhearingloss.org. This is our online community for people with hearing loss.

Did you know that depression is five times more prevalent among people with hearing loss than in the general population? And did you know that depression among family members is 2 and a half times more prevalent? Terry quoted this from a study done  in the UK. This is why our research symposium on Sunday morning is so important. You will  hear a panel talking  about the latest research on the psychosocial effects of hearing loss – something we probably all experience but to have it validated by research is the first step in finding effective interventions.

  

Convention 2007 just a few days away!!

We are so excited that Convention 2007 has finally arrived. Today, the majority of the Hearing Loss Association of America national office staff has started to arrive and are on-site busy preparing all the last minute details for the convention that begins on Thursday June 21, 2007.

This year’s convention promises to be an exciting one, taking place in Oklahoma City, the Hearing Loss Association of America prides itself in having the largest accessible consumer trade show for people with hearing loss, their families, and friends. The convention will begin on Thursday June 21, 2007 at the Cox Convention and Business Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Although registration has closed on-line you can register on-site and be able to take part in the many activities planned.

Exhibitors will be beginning set up on site of the Cox Convention Center on Wednesday June 20, 2007. The exhibit hall which is a great attraction for consumers to learn about new and existing products for people with hearing loss, will feature over 75 vendors from across the country, daily passes for visiting the exhibit hall are free and can be obtained from the registration desk. The Exhibit Hall will be open Thursday 11:00 am to 2:30 pm, Friday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Come back to this blog on a regular basis to catch what’s happening at Convention 2007 and learn about all the fun and excitement attendees this year are having.

Come join us for all the fun at Convention 2007!

Welcome

 

This is the 2007 Convention Daily News – a blog from onsite with all the latest from Oklahoma City.

Hello world!

We will be bringing you all the excitement and information as it happens directly from the Cox Business Center in Downtown Oklahoma City. Check back frequently so that you do not miss a thing!