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From HLA - Ann Arbor
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[edit] Who Are We?
We are a chapter of the National Hearing Loss Association of America and the Hearing Loss Association of Michigan - an advocacy and support organization for people with hearing loss, deaf or hard of hearing, and those who work with hearing loss. We used to be the Washtenaw Area Self Help for Hard of Hearing (WASHHH). We serve and learn from ALL AGES and ALL STAGES of hearing loss.
To stay up to date on our activities, please join the mailing list (where you can follow the latest discussions). For more information, drop us a note at info@hla-annarbor.org.
[edit] Upcoming Meetings
Located in Ann Arbor, Michigan (Washtenaw County) our group meets year round on the first Monday of the month at 7pm. See the Map for directions. We meet at the Turner Senior Resource Center where we installed an audio loop in exchange for the use of their meeting room. Our meetings have Communications Access Real Time (CART) captioning provided by ScreenLine, LLC. It allows real-time captioning to displayed on the screen.
2008 February 4:
This meeting of Hearing Loss Association of Ann Arbor will have speaker Dr. Els Nieuwenhuijsen Eldersveld. Els is a member of the Ann Arbor Commission on Disability Issues. And while she will be speaking to us about her activities on the commission she did ask that we keep in mind that she will not be speaking for the commission. What started my relationship with Els was her telling me about a goal that she has set for the city of Ann Arbor and that is to make the city as accessible as possible to all citizens - blind, deaf, wheelchair users, etc.
Here is what Els has provided as an informal "agenda" for her visit to our group:
a. Brief introduction to the World Health Organization international classification of functioning, disability, and health, to give your group an update about the current international and national understanding of the concept of disability and the role of the environment in terms of participation of people disabilities in the community.
b. An interactive discussion about the National Organization on Disability (NOD) annual contest Accessible America: to promote disability friendly cities in the US. NOD developed seven indicators which I want to share with your group. I like to discuss your impressions about the city of Ann Arbor and the level of disability friendliness (using the seven NOD indicators) and generate ideas from your group how you think the city quickly transformed into a fully accessible city.
Just in case you are not able to attend the meetings but would like to participate remotely in real time by viewing the CART, goto https://www.gotomeeting.com/join/961461061 (Meeting ID: 961-461-061)
[edit] What's Up
[edit] 2008
At our January meeting we recognized Sue Deer Hall and honored her for her many years of exceptional service to the chapter with a gift certificate and words of praise. Sue is an absolute treasure!
We also recognized member Nan Asher for her contributions to further the cause of accessibility to all deaf and hearing-impaired citizens of the state of Michigan. She received a lovely certificate to hang on her wall and we gave MADHH a contribution of $100 to further the cause.
[edit] 2007
After fielding a team of eight at May's Walk for Hearing we held our annual garage sale in early June followed a week later by our summer picnic. We raised about $1000 at the Walkathon, a bit over $200 at the garage sale and a little sunburn at the picnic. We are now gearing up to erect and staff our Booth at the Ann Arbor Art Fair, July 18-21, with staff from MADHH lending a hand. If you are at the Fair, stop by our booth in the non-profits section on Liberty St. and help yourself to a few brochures and a Hard of Hearing badge. Hospital kits for deaf and Hard of Hearing patients also available for $3.00.
We are working with a local foundation and Screenline LLC, in offering demonstrations of Remote CART to all HLA chapters in Michigan. The word has been out for several months and three Michigan chapters have already made plans for a demo meeting in the fall. Remote CART allows participants to follow the discussion in writing as well as through your own audio loop, ASL, FM or PA provisions. An added advantage is that members unable to attend may still participate remotely through a simple internet connection. Costs of providing remote CART are covered by the foundation grant for up to two demonstration trials per chapter.
[edit] Walk 4 Hearing
The HLA3 chapter did extremely well in raising funds for HLA. We have had $1,000.00 pledged and if all of that money is paid, the Ann Arbor chapter will receive $400.00, with the balance going to the state and national offices.
Please click Walk pictures to see pictures from this really fun and productive event.
[edit] Current Events
Visit Current Events for more detail. We also keep our calendar on Google Calendar under the name "HLA-AnnArbor Calendar". It's real easy to link to your own Google Calendar on your Google account.
[edit] Looping
Looping is ideal for businesses, churches, government facilities, court rooms and meeting rooms. We would like to help you loop your space so that deaf and hard of hearing people can hear better.
We continue to answer requests for information on looping local conference rooms and churches. We have covered nine inquiries over the past 18 months and four loops that we know of have been installed.
