HLAA – Montgomery County Chapter

Our speaker this month is Karen Latimer, the Assistive Technology Specialist for Pennsylvania’s Initiative on Assistive Technology (PIAT), which is located at the Institute on Disabilities at Temple University here in Philadelphia. Karen has been involved in the field of Assistive Technology and Disability Service for over 20 years. Before her service to PIAT, Karen was a Student Services Coordinator at Disability Student Services at Temple University.

Prior to her service at Temple, she was the CEO at TECH4U Adaptive Solutions, LLC in Phoenix, Arizona where she trained and assisted Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors to provide Assistive Technology solutions for clients.

Please join us for our next meeting which will be held on

MONDAY,

March 7, 2011

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

Hope to see you all there!

The chapter celebrated the holiday season at the recent meeting with raspberry punch and a variety of holiday treats. Several visitors were present, and took part in the wide ranging discussions, mostly about dealing with hearing loss.
A few chapter members will again help at the Farm Show in Harrisburg in January. The state level organization, HLA-PA will sponsor a booth, and we will set up an induction loop for demonstration purposes.
The chapter does not meet in January and February; the next meeting will be on March 6, 2011.
We expect to return to the Jeanes Library eventually, but the timetable for the completion of their renovation and expansion program is not certain.

With the holidays just around the corner, we will be holding our traditional holiday party.

Members are asked to  bring a dessert or finger food of your choice and join in all the fun.　 Guests are always welcome at our meetings but we are extending a special invitation to them for our holiday party.

Please join us for our next meeting which will be held on
MONDAY    December 7, 2009    beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Mercy Suburban Hospital

Note: Montco Chapter will not meet during January and February – watch for the February newsletter with information on the March meeting.

Jim Fox,who is the Director for System Safety & Risk Management for SEPTA, spoke at our meeting on November 1.  He described Operation Lifesaver, SEPTA’s program to enhance safety at grade crossings, and discussed the challenges that the system faces in keeping their operations as safe as possible. Of particular interest to members of the Hearing Loss Association, he discussed the variety of ways in which SEPTA tries to accomodate riders with a variety of disabilities.  He also reviewed SEPTA history in general, and the financial picture of the system.  His finely crafted presentation has been delivered to bus drivers, schools, emergency personnel, and businesses.

Since the first Monday of the month, our usual meeting date, is Labor Day in September, the meeting will be on September 13, in the Gerber Room at Suburban General Hospital in Norristown, at 6:30 p.m.