HEARING LOSS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHAPTER NEWSLETTER

MAY 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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Working with the FCC

HLAA was appointed to the Consumer Advisory Committee of the FCC again last year. You might ask, why does this matter to me? It matters a great deal because the FCC regulates our access to TV and telephones, two areas where many hard of hearing people have difficulties in understanding. Here’s an update on some of the current issues:

The first 3-D televisions are rolling onto shelves at stores like Best Buy, and we don’t yet know how they will work with captioning. One individual who has given presentations on 3-D television issues calls 3-D TVs “the most dangerous TV ever made,” and lest you think he was talking about rogue captions, there are many other concerns. Some people get queasy watching movies in 3-D because our eyes and brains just aren’t wired for it.

And, while we’re celebrating how more members of the Consumer Electronics Association have listened to our plea for a caption button on each TV remote, it would be nice to cut down on hunting time by having the button’s location jump out right away or be in the same general location on every remote. If you travel a lot, I’m sureyou’d also love to be able to do it and get your captions without feeling like you’re in training to become an electronics engineer. It seems like every hotel television either has a different menu to get the captions or you have to get a tech person to come to your room with a master remote to turn them on.

Employment Conference October 29

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.

The exhibit hall will feature appropriate vendors providing important information on assistive equipment, resources, and job placement. The exhibitors will be available all day with special breaks in between workshops as well.

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

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

SE PA Picnic Sunday July 11, 2010

Don’tforgetourtraditionalregionalpicnicatPavilion11BinRidleyCreekStateParkonSunday,July11from12noonuntil6p.m.Friedchicken,paperproductsandicewillbeprovided.Foodcontributionsofsalads,sidedishes,drinksordessertsaregreatlyappreciated.Thecostisonly$6perpersonor$10perfamily.Thepicnicwillbeheldrainorshine.PleasesendyourreservationsbyJuly7,2010toBillPfeifer,126CedarcroftRoad,KennettSquare,PA19348orbyemailatbpfeifer@verizon.net.

Quoteofthemonth:

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet

2010 PA Walk4Hearing Kickoff Party August 8

Thisyear’skickoffpartyforthePAWalk4HearingwillbeheldonSunday,August8,2010attheIndependenceMallVisitor’sCenterinCenterCityPhiladelphia.Everyoneiswelcometojoininthefunandfindoutmoreaboutplansforthisyear’swalkathon,whichwillbeheldonSaturday,September25.FormoreinformationcontactDebraCannon,walkchairperson,atcannon@hla-pa.org orcallherat215-805-6011.

Next Meeting: Dessert Delights

We are asking everyone to please bring a dessert to share at our last meeting before our summer vacation break. Use your imagination and dazzle your friends at this special event. Come and let us know what topics and activities you’d like the chapter to provide beginning in September.

Please join us for our next meeting on

MONDAY

June7,2010

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