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Please save the following dates for our upcoming meetings:

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•  Saturday March 21, 2020 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
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• May, 2020 from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, date to be determined.
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• Saturday, September 12th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm.
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• Saturday, November 7th from 2:00 – 4:00 pm –
  On Nov. 7th, the guest speaker will be Ms. Darleen Wilson.  Ms. Wilson is a life-long musician and is actively dealing with the consequences of her own moderate-severe hearing loss. Convinced that there are better solutions for hearing technologies, Wilson undertook a Masters in Human Factors to expand her perspective on product design. She focuses her work on improving hearing products and services.  Wilson serves on the Audiology Leadership Advisory Council for Mass. Eye and Ear (a teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School).
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All meetings will be held at the Northborough Library. There will be CART (computer aided real time captioning).

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Stay tuned for more details as we  are in the process of contacting/confirming speakers for topics related to Cochlear Implant and Hearing Aid Technology, and Coping with Hearing Loss.

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If you have any suggestions for topics and speakers, please let us know.

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We are looking forward to seeing all of you!

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HLAA Central MA’s steering Committee

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Beth Wilson

Margaret Myatt

Gina Constantino

Gloria and Stan Radler

Tina Thompson

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Our SPRING ASL CLASS REGISTRATION DEADLINE is now FEBRUARY 10th. Classes start February 18th.

For those who have thought about taking sign language classes. This is being offered by the Center for Working and Living in Worcester. This agency supports HLAA Central MA  as they advertised our group in their newsletter.

Ten week classes beginning in February.  Tuition is only $200 – that only $20 per class!!

Below are links to the promotional flyer and  sign up sheet.

      Please send your completed registration form to: Joan Philip.  Checks or money orders must be payable to: CLW.

      Any questions, please contact:

                Joan Philip,  jphilip@centerlw.org,       508-762-1165

Click here for sign-up sheet 

Spring ASL Class signup deadline is February 10^th!

Kim White, Staff Interpreter, Center for Living & Working, Inc.

484 Main Street, Suite 345, Worcester, MA 01608

Phone:       508-755-1042

Fax:              508-797-4015

VP:               508-283-1036

TTY:              508-755-1003

Public VP:  508-762-1164

kwhite@centerlw.org

www.centerlw.org

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My Journey as a Musician with Hearing Loss

A “Talk and Play” presentation
by Betty Hauck, viola and violin

Wednesday, January 8, 2020, 1:00 pm

Franklin, MA Senior Center

For 50 years, Betty enjoyed a rich and rewarding career as a professional violist—until the day she realized that she had to retire because of progressive hearing loss. For three years, she completely turned her back on music. In this “Talk & Play” presentation, she will tell the story of how various twists and turns led her back into sharing the joy of music while educating and advocating for those with hearing loss. Her talk will be punctuated by short musical selections on both violin and viola. This will be a short 20 minute presentation in lieu of the usual sermon.

Highlights of Betty’s career include performing for the Kennedys at the White House, playing in a string quartet with Yo-Yo Ma and, as a founding member of the Apple Hill Chamber Players, touring the Middle East annually, performing and teaching young Palestinian and Jewish music students.

Betty was recently featured in an NPR story about musicians and hearing loss:
http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/04/17/classical-musicians-hearing-loss

 

Contact: bettiola@comcast.net

Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, Franklin, MA

(508) 520-4945

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HLAA Partners with American Girl®

Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s leading nonprofit organization representing people with hearing loss, is proud to partner with American Girl, the inspiring world of dolls and a subsidiary of Mattel. HLAA and American Girl are teaming up in honor of the company’s 2020 Girl of the Year, Joss Kendrick, to increase education and awareness of hearing loss.

Joss—a fierce athlete with a passion for surfing and competitive cheer who wears a hearing aid —joins American Girl’s lineup of inspirational characters who impart meaningful life lessons to help girls learn and grow with confidence. Whether she’s on her surfboard or in the gym, Joss shows girls the importance of trying new things, pushing past stereotypes, and being a good team player.

American Girl is donating $25,000 to support HLAA’s educational programs. American Girl is also supporting the organization’s 2020 Walk4Hearing with a donation of Joss dolls. And, from January 1, 2020, through the end of the year, the company will collect donations for HLAA at americangirl.com and at American Girl stores nationwide.

“What could be more exciting than to have an American Girl doll be a role model for girls with hearing loss?” said HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley. “HLAA is proud to partner with American Girl to help girls know that, like Joss, they can be and do anything—an empowering message for girls with or without hearing loss. I hope girls who read Joss’s inspiring story will help create awareness about hearing loss among their friends and family.”

Celebrating its 15th year, HLAA’s Walk4Hearing brings families together in 20 cities across the U.S. to encourage hearing health and hearing protection. With more than 48 million Americans living with hearing loss, the Walk4Hearing is a call to action for everyone to do something about hearing loss. American Girl’s support will shine a light on these efforts, with donations funding HLAA’s educational initiatives that inform families about essential resources and technologies and help people with hearing loss pursue life to the fullest.

About HLAA
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy. HLAA produces Walk4Hearing events, holds an annual convention, publishes the magazine, Hearing Life, advocates for the rights of people with hearing loss, and has HLAA Chapters across the country. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone 301.657.2248 or visit hearingloss.org.

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BREAKING NEWS: House Passes Bill for Medicare Coverage of Hearing Aids

Today, in a historic achievement, the House of Representatives this week voted to expand Medicare to cover hearing aids and related hearing health care services. By a vote of 230-192, the House approved HR 3, a bill that allows the federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices and uses the savings from lower drug prices to cover the costs of hearing, dental and vision health services.

While the House action is a significant step forward, much work remains to be done before Medicare coverage of hearing aids becomes a reality. HR 3 now goes to the Senate where there is opposition to negotiating drug prices. Many Senators, and as well as the Trump Administration, are exploring other ways to lower the cost of prescription drugs. Whether these alternatives will also include hearing aid coverage under Medicare remains to be seen.

While prospects for final action on HR 3 remain uncertain, this week’s House vote is a milestone achievement on an issue that has been an HLAA top priority for many years. HLAA was among the earliest and most vocal supporters of Medicare coverage for hearing aids, and worked closely with key Members of Congress this year to include the language in the prescription drug negotiation bill. As the issue moves forward, HLAA staff will continue working with Congress, Medicare experts, other hearing health care organizations.

When Congress created Medicare in 1965, it expressly excluded hearing aids. More than 50 years later, HLAA is setting the stage to correct that oversight.