As shown on “The Pitt,” when an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter is unavailable or real-time captioning is missing, vital information is lost, leading to diagnostic and treatment delays.
My Turning Point
Today, I wear my “HARD OF HEARING” hoodie proudly because I’m no longer hiding from my hearing loss.
Captions, Please (Everywhere)!
It bears repeating: What improves access for a group with a specific disability invariably also helps the greater population.
Thankful This Thanksgiving
With Thanksgiving here, we’re feeling especially grateful. Thank you, truly, for being part of our Hearing Health Foundation community, some of whom I was fortunate enough to meet over the summer and fall.
Access Isn’t One Size Fits All
Even within the d/Deaf and hard of hearing umbrella, our access needs and identities vary widely. That in-between space can feel like nowhere—not “hearing enough” for the hearing world, not “Deaf enough” for Deaf spaces.
From Gradual Hearing Loss to National Advocacy
Before I discovered CART, I often felt left out, despite being physically present. This gap in awareness affects thousands of people. That’s why I speak up, because access delayed is opportunity denied.
Let’s Hear It for Hearing Access in Public Spaces
There are a lot of people with hearing loss out there. We need to come together to tell the world how to accommodate our needs, and why. If we stay silent, we cannot expect anything to improve.
Hearing When You Can’t Hear
A survey of more than 1,500 respondents with hearing loss found that while many look for and request accommodations, they are often not available—62 percent answered “seldom or never” when asked how often they can find accommodations.
Hear Well for the Holidays
Statistically speaking, half of grandparents and great-grandparents have significant hearing loss. So do about one in 10 of the aunts, uncles, or adult friends ages 55 to 64. Plus, we know that among adults exposed to loud noise—at work or in everyday life—about one in five has a hard time hearing speech. This can be a real hindrance to enjoying the holidays when all we want to do is connect with one another and share life’s joys.
Only Connect
Growing up with a parent with hearing loss, I understood the challenges that can result from communication gaps. I also saw firsthand how many people with hearing loss don’t seek medical help because of the cost or not being aware of services.