HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 2010

Montco Chapter Officers:

President:DonnaPenman,phone:610-279-0905;Emailaddress:pen447@verizon.netorpenguin2@tmail.comVice-President:PattyCortez;email:pattypeep@gmail.com

Treasurer:KathyHarral Secretary:LauraSkwirutAssistiveTechnology:DonGroff

Newslettercommittee:DianaBender,email:bender@hla-pa.org,andDonGroff

MeetingSchedule:1^stMondayofeachMonth,exceptJanuary,February,JulyandAugust:GerberRoom,2ndfloorMercySuburbanHospital,2701DeKalbPike(Route202),EastNorriton,PA,6:30 – 8:30p.m.

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A Poem

By Peg Adamucci

I have the reputation of not hearing what you say.
But I really want to hear it, so, I’ll tell you of the way
That you can talk to me so that we both relate
And share our little stories as we communicate.

It’s simple and it’s easy, just like a little game
If you first get my attention by calling out my name.
Then please come closely by me, and look upon my face,
For when you’re very near me, that is the perfect place.

Please speak a little louder, and at a moderate rate;
No forcefulness or shouting when you articulate.
Your face without your hands on it will help me hear your voice,
For a clear view of your mouth and eyes will always be my choice.

When it happens that I’m missing what it is that you have said,
Just tell me once again, by using others words instead.
And when a room is noisy, or the music is too loud
I still like to be included, interacting with the crowd.

Althoughbeinghard-of-hearingisnotapieceofcake,
Iappreciateyourpatienceandtheextracareyoutake
Infollowingtheseguidelines,soI’llgettojoinright in
Withthegoings-onaroundmeasyouhelpmeclearthedin.

Take the 2010 Hearing Aid Compatibility Survey

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) has just launched its annual Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC) Survey. HLAA members who use assistive hearing technology (like hearing aids, cochlear implants, etc.) are invited to share their experiences using wireless cell phones. The survey will run through October 31, 2010.

All participants will be entered into a drawing for a $250 Amazon gift certificate. For the past four years the HAC Survey has tracked the impact of the 2003 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules requiring mobile phones to be compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants.

Datacollectedfromthesurveyisusedtoeducatethewirelessindustryandgovernmentregulatorsontheneedsofpeoplewhouseassistivehearingtechnology.Letyourvoicebeheard,bytakingthesurvey.Tolearnmoreandtotakethesurvey,pleasevisit:http://www.wirelessrerc.org/news/take-the-2010-hac-survey.

Working Together: HLA-PA Employment Conference

HLA-PA is again sponsoring an employment conference in the Philadelphia area. This one–day conference is designed to attract a varied group of people with employment as the main focus. We will welcome hard of hearing people who are now employed, those seeking employment (including students entering the workforce), employers, human resources personnel, rehabilitation counselors, and placement services staff.

The event will take place at the Radisson Valley Forge Hotel, 1210 First Avenue, King of Prussia, PA on Friday, October 29, 2010. The day will begin with a welcome coffee at 8:30 am and conclude by 5:00 pm.

Theexhibithallwillfeatureappropriatevendorsprovidingimportantinformationonassistiveequipment,resources,andjobplacement.Theexhibitorswillbeavailablealldaywithspecialbreaksinbetweenworkshopsaswell.

Real time captioning (CART), assistive listening devices, and ASL interpreters will ensure that all presentations are accessible to all.

The cost is $40.00 per person or $70.00 for a student accompanied by a parent. Welcome coffee and buffet lunch are included in this cost.

Informationandregistrationformsareavailableatwww.hla-pa.orgorfromHLA-PAat1371CushmoreRoad,Southampton,PA18966.YoumayalsorequestaregistrationformbyemailtoConference@hla-pa.org

Chapter Dues

Our treasurer, Kathy Harral, will be collecting our annual dues at the September meeting. The cost is $10 per person and $15 per couple. If you do not plan to be at the meeting, please send a check to Kathy Harral at:

250 Ravens Cliff

St. Davids, PA 19087

Be sure to make the check out to HLAA Montgomery County chapter.

Quoteofthemonth:

“Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.”

Wayne Dyer

2010 PA Walk4Hearing September 25, 2010

BesuretocomeoutandsupportMontcochapterandHLAAwhentheMontcoMarcherswillparticipateinthePAWalk4HearingonSeptember25atPavilion11BinRidleyCreekStateParkinMedia,PAbeginningat9am.Youcantrackourteam’sprogressatwww.walk4hearing.org.PattyCortezwillleadourteamascaptain.

Next Meeting: Monday, September 13, 2010: It’s a Surprise!

NotethatforSeptemberourmeetingdatewillmovetothesecondMondayofthemonthduetoLaborDay.Comeandsharestoriesofhowyousurvivedthesummerwithyourhearingaidand/orCIwhileenjoyingthesurpriseDonnahascookedupforus.

Please join us for our next meeting on

MONDAY

September13,2010

beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercy Suburban Hospital.