Sunday Wrap Up

The young adults, many of whom received scholarships, after the awards banquet

Sunday morning was the HLAA awards breakfast, sponsored by CapTel. The ceremony celebrated HLAA members from around the country who have gone above and beyond in their advocacy and outreach efforts. There were awards for best website and newsletter, special service awards and other awards for outstanding HLAA members. Scholarship recipients and Walk 4 Hearing (which had its own room and booth in the exhibit hall) leaders were also recognized.

Peg Adamucci (who was available to sign her book Grandmom and Me and the System) and her husband at the HLAA booth

After the awards ceremony my friends and I walked around to experience a bit of Milwaukee before we headed home. We searched around the city for a specific place that my friend heard had really good grilled cheese. Unfortunately, it was closed. So was the next restaurant we were sent to. At least we enjoyed the walk and we found a pretty good Italian place to stop and eat lunch at.

I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share the convention experience with you all. I’d like to thank Nancy Macklin for giving me this opportunity as well as planning this entire weekend-long shindig. She is simply amazing. I learned so much about new technologies available to help deaf and hard of hearing people experience life and communicate with the world. I also learned important ways in which I can be a powerful self-advocate and get the accommodations I need.

Thanks again to all of our sponsors. My personal thanks go out to CTIA: The Wireless Association and Starkey Labs for providing young adult scholarships, Hamilton Captel for sponsoring the blog and AT&T for sponsoring Comedy Sportz and the exhibit hall socials, at which I met amazing people. Our sincere gratitude also goes out to:

Cochlear Americas: Rumble at the Harley Davidson Museum

Advanced Bionics: Convention Workbook

Med-El: Badges and lanyards

Oticon: Registration bags

Sorenson Communications: Get acquainted party

T-Mobile: President & executive director’s reception

Verizon: Convention program and exhibit guide

R.I.T./NTID: Communication access for the research symposium

Blackberry RIM: Three morning coffee breaks

Hearing Industries Association: Hearing screening booth

Williams Sound: Signage

Saturday Shows and Shenanigans

Comedy Sportz show (picture courtesy Sarah Mosher)

Sarah is just one of the young adults I met who have written up a great description of their convention experiences on the Kansas City chapter blog .

Due to the young adult shenanigans the night prior I missed out on some morning activities. I went to lunch at the local mall with my friend Rhi and Sveta and while we were there we met another convention attendee, Joanne. She has a twenty-year-old daughter who has a hearing loss. Joanne told me how much she'd learned and experienced at the convention and that she wants to bring get her daughter to go next year. After eating lunch and talking to Joanne for a while, I attended a workshop.

The workshop which I did attend was on movie and theater accommodations. A lot of it I’d heard before. There are open captions, closed captions and rear window captions, though I’m not very familiar with the rear window type. Infrared and fm systems are sometimes used. Interpreting is also an option for live theater. There’s actually some cool captioning glasses some students at UCLA supposedly developed recently, which I think would be great, but I haven’t heard much about them or tried them out for myself. What was more interesting to me was the different accommodations mentioned by people from different areas of the country. I had recently seen some shows at the Orange County Performing Arts Center and was not impressed with the systems used. I guess that’s why HLAA pushes so much for individual self-advocacy so that everyone from any area can obtain the accommodations they need.

Soon after the workshop was an ice-cream social in the exhibit hall, No Ordinary Sundae, sponsored by AT&T. It was a great time to meet up with friends and enjoy delicious ice-cream. Unfortunately, I heard they ran out of ice-cream, but I was lucky enough to snag some and sit down to eat with my new friends.

After that was the Oktoberfest in June banquet. Milwaukee is known for its beer, cheese, motorcycles and German cultural food, all of which we got to experience over the course of the weekend, so the Oktoberfest theme fit well. Many of the young adults decided to skip this event in favor of Comedy Sportz, the off-site event for young adults. However, some of us popped into the Oktoberfest event first. There was some great food there including potatoes au gratin and a mushroom-stuffed, pastry-covered chicken dish. I personally saved a little room for the Comedy Sportz excursion, also sponsored by AT&T.

For those not familiar with Comedy Sportz, it’s an improv comedy show, similar to the television show Whose Line is it Anyway. The night was particularly entertaining for us as it was specially captioned for HLAA. Not only that, but the presence o the captionists added to the comedic effect as the host (or referee) made comments about the CART service as well as the ladies providing it. They did an excellent job. There were two ladies captioning, and apparently both of their names were Lisa, so the referee made a joke about that as well as how cool it was to see his words on the screen. It was an interesting night to say the least. I was surprised at the number of people who attended whom I’m certain were over the 18-35 age range. I was expecting a more intimate gathering. However, I think I remember reading somewhere that this event was “also open to the young at heart.”

When the buses headed for home, however, the true young adults decided to hop off the bus at Mo’s Irish Pub rather than return to the hotel. It was a long night. I got about 4 and a half hours of sleep before the awards banquet. It’s always interesting to try to communicate in a diverse group. This younger group was not as diverse in age as the Oktoberfest or Comedy Sportz crowds, but it was more intimate. Some spoke, some signed, and others read lips or used multiple means of communication. It was certainly a long and interesting night.

In the Works

I'm working on a post about everything that occurred yesterday (it was a long and exhausting day) but I really want to go see all the amazing things today has to offer me. Don't worry, you will hear all about the convention, but I've got to go experience it! Also working on getting some pictures. Thanks for your patience.

A Word From Our Sponsor: Exciting News for Hard of Hearing iPhone Users from Hamilton CapTel!

Our blog sponsor has some exciting news for hard of hearing iPhone users! Hamilton CapTel® announced Thursday that it is releasing the first iPhone® app to provide captions for every call!

June 16, 2010, Aurora, Nebraska –Today, Hamilton CapTel announced the immediate availability of the Hamilton Mobile CapTel application for the iPhone. The application provides captions of telephone calls for individuals with hearing loss while they are on the go. Available nationwide, Hamilton Mobile CapTel allows users to listen while reading captions of everything that is said during phone calls – all from the convenience of their iPhone.

“This is a major addition to the Hamilton CapTel family of solutions, delivering unprecedented access and freedom for iPhone users that are hard of hearing,” said Dixie Ziegler, vice president of Hamilton Relay, provider of Hamilton Mobile CapTel service. “At Hamilton, we are dedicated to delivering personalized service and providing the most technologically advanced solutions. Every call is important, and due to the widespread use of the iPhone, we have created a free iPhone App that is easy-to-use with an intuitive interface to meet the needs of iPhone users in the U.S.”

Similar to captions on television, Hamilton Mobile CapTel delivers captions for telephone conversations. The popularity of the iPhone in particular has spurred creation of an iPhone App that is free, easy and highly functional. The Hamilton Mobile CapTel iPhone App delivers several useful features that meet the demands of people who are hard-of-hearing:

• Listen to what is said while simultaneously reading captions of what’s said on the screen of the iPhone

• Integration of Contacts; phone numbers are available when it’s time to place a call

• Free captions in both English and Spanish

• Available on any 3G/3GS iPhone

• Works with an iPhone compatible headset---wired or Bluetooth

• Registered Web CapTel users can download the app immediately and have access to their profile and contacts stored on the iPhone, captioning can begin within seconds
What an awesome communication tool for people with hearing loss! It’s simple, easy to use, gives you access from anywhere, and it’s free! What more could you ask for?
Download the free Hamilton Mobile CapTel iPhone App at the iTunes® App StoreSM. Search “Hamilton Mobile CapTel” or download directly at: http://iphone.appmobilize.com/track/185118

iPhone users who are new to CapTel can visit www.HamiltonCapTel.com for more details or may begin the one-time registration process at www.HamiltonWebCapTel.com.
And don’t forget to follow Hamilton CapTel on twitter for all the latest news and technology available for hard of hearing people at @HamiltonApTel.

See the full press release at the Hamilton CapTel site.

Day 1

Well, I made it to Milwaukee. My flight was the very last to come in, so I started out pretty tuckered out. Boy did I have a day ahead of me. When I first walked up to the convention registration desk I was cheerfully greeted by a convention volunteer and given a registration bag (sponsored by Oticon), a program book (sponsored by Verizon) and a chance to pick up an assisted listening device generously donated by Williams Sound.

First up, newcomer orientation:
The orientation was given by none other than Sue Miller, who is anything but a newcomer to the convention (see earlier post). There was a major emphasis on total accessibility. From hearing loops and real time captioning to infrared assisted listening devices this convention has it all to ensure that every hard of hearing attendee may fully participate. I was told that there are about 800 attendees at this year’s convention. It certainly is refreshing to know that for once, even though I was among a large group of people, I could be certain that everyone around me understood in some way what it meant to be hard of hearing. I believe it was Michael Stone who said during the orientation that “convention going is a contact sport. You get information. You make contacts. You make new friends. On an average day as a hard of hearing person you might feel completely isolated from the rest of the world. At an HLAA convention you meet so many people who understand. You share stories about dealing with hearing loss. It’s life changing.” Then we were left to go off in our separate directions and experience these things for ourselves.

Workshops:
There are 5 education tracks this year which include advocacy and access, hearing technology, medical issues, relationships and communication, and young adults. A workshop in the advocacy and access track which I found particularly interesting was “Advocating for Hearing Loops.” I had recently been talking to friends about my frustration that there aren’t very many places that have hearing loops, so this was very interesting and informative for me. Loops are so simple and accessible to anyone with a t-coil in their hearing aid. I often find fm systems, (and the infrared system I tried out today) to come in fuzzy and distorted, but hearing loops always come in clear for me. I’m glad to hear there are more initiatives around the country to get hearing loops more widely available.

Keynote Speaker Bill Barkeley:
Bill Barkeley is quite an inspirational person. He has Ushers syndrome and is deaf/blind. He also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro. He acknowledges that he had a lot of help. There is a lot of technology available to us now and we should embrace it. He believes it’s important that he takes the emphasis off of himself and puts it on the issues of hearing and vision impaired people. He is also convinced that hardships “can make us bitter or make us better” and that we must let them make us better by using them to help others. We, as hard of hearing people, also need to be comfortable helping others help us reach our goals. Mr. Barkeley was a very inspiring speaker.


After the opening session and keynote speech there was a casino-themed “get acquainted party.” It was an exciting start to a promising weekend.

Sprint CapTel Demo

This just in from Todd Bader at Sprint Relay/ CapTel:

A demo program has been added for Saturday from 3-3:45

What can you do with Sprint 4G?

Curious about America’s first Sprint 4G Phone, hearing aid compatibility and 3G/4G mobile broadband solutions? Join us and learn more about Sprint’s 3G and 4G mobile solutions. You will also learn how Sprint CapTel and Mobile Relay Conference Captioning will work wirelessly using 3G/4G mobile broadband solutions in different ways. See what you can do with Sprint 4G!

25 Conventions!

While I'd like you all to get acquainted with us newbies at the convention, I'd also like you to congratulate two members who have been here since the beginning. Say hello to Bob Branigin and Sue Miller. They have been attending HLAA's national conventions since 1984.


Sue Miller of Rochester, NY, is a former Board of Trustees member and a past president of HLAA. She provides an overview of the convention program, what you can learn, see and do at the Newcomer’s Orientation. Sue has been to every single convention since 1984, making Milwaukee her 25^th consecutive attendance!

Excerpt from Collection of Memories of Rocky Stone

My life is so rich because of my experiences with SHHH/HLAA. I’ve traveled to cities all across the country to attend the conventions...places I never would have seen. I’ve met wonderful people from all over the USA, again, because of SHHH/HLAA.

I can now hear when I go to places of worship, the theater, a court room, because of Rocky and his vision. My life has such meaning and purpose...all because of Rocky.

Bob Branigin of Seattle, WA is another long time HLAA member who also has been to every single convention from the first one in Chicago, Illinois in 1984!

Excerpt from Collection of Memories of Rocky Stone

My most cherished memory of Rocky is that he would make the time to have breakfast or lunch with me at every convention from his retirement up until his passing. He would tell me serious things and share his concern for SHHH/HLAA. He had a great sense of humor and would tell me jokes. He would joke with me about who will be the last person to break the record of attending every convention since the first one in Chicago. At the present time [February 2009] Sue Miller of Rochester, NY, and I are the only two people who have been to all of the conventions.

Program Changes

The convention is coming up fast! Leaving tomorrow!

FYI: There are a couple of things that need to be changed in the program book.

1)WORKSHOP CANCELED:

"Advocacy Through Social Networking"

Presenter: Teresa Burke

Scheduled for: Saturday from 12:45-2

The presenter broke her foot and cannot make it.

2) On the sponsor page of the program guide (p 35) Blackberry CTIA should be Blackberry RIM (Research In Motion)

That's it for now. More soon!

Have Fun! Make New Friends! Go to Milwaukee!

Hey, everybody. I hope you’re getting excited about the convention, because I sure am. I’ll be arriving in Milwaukee one week from now!

Convention 2010 promises to be an exciting event. There will be a ton of cool exhibits and speakers, but what I’m really looking forward to are the social activities. Meeting cool new people is a great reason to attend. You’re bound to make new friends with people from all over the country at fun-filled events like Oktoberfest in June and Rumble at the Harley Davidson Museum. Heck, you might even win free registration to next year’s convention at the Harley.

Thanks to a generous sponsorship from AT&T there will even be a special off-site event for young adults at Comedy Sportz Milwaukee! This is an improv comedy club, but there will be CART (realtime captioning). I’m interested to see how it goes. I recently attended a “comedy sportz high school league” show my brother performed in. I didn’t understand a thing, but my parents said I wasn’t the only one. I’m sure it will be a challenge for a brave captionist.

See the convention page for all the fun stuff to do at and around the convention!

If for some unfortunate reason you can’t join us this year, you should definitely go to convention 2011. If you're a first-timer, like me, you can even apply for a scholarship for next year. Half a dozen young adults - myself included - are going on scholarships this year generously sponsored by CTIA- The Wireless Association. Applications for scholarships to convention 2011 should be available at the beginning of the year and have a deadline at the end of March.

Have a great week and I hope to meet you - yes YOU - in Milwaukee!

Introduction

Hello, everyone. I’d just like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Rachel, and I’m so excited to be attending and blogging for this year’s HLAA national convention in Milwaukee! I’d like to thank my good friend Rhi Gutierrez (HLA-CA board member and cover girl for the current issue of The Hearing Loss Californian) for nominating me for a scholarship to the convention as well as mentioning my name when Nancy was looking for a blogger. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for her! Also, thanks to Hamilton Cap Tel for sponsoring our official blog.

A little bit about me

Age: 23

Born and raised: Orange County, CA

Hearing loss: progressive, bilateral, sensorineural loss, severe to profound in left, profound in right ear

Education: BA in English literature, Chapman University, 2009

Current favorite hearing devices: Phonak Versata P and iCom with Bluetooth/audio input capabilities

Interests: writing, swing dancing, music, captioned movies, travel, volunteering, reading, technology, advocacy for young adults with hearing loss

Personal blog: http://youngandhoh.blogspot.com

That’s it for now. You’ll hear more from me later as I keep you up to date on all the exciting events going on at the convention! See you in Milwaukee!