Halloween HOPE Meeting Brings Joy, Connection, and Celebration
Our Halloween HOPE Meeting was a heartwarming success, filled with laughter, connection, and community spirit. A huge thank you to Tim and Wendi for organizing and leading the event with such care and enthusiasm. The room was buzzing with energy as we welcomed new faces and reunited with longtime friends, sharing stories, strategies, and support in a space that felt truly welcoming. And a very special thank you to Alicia and Michael for hosting and taking good care of us.
Wendi presenting the Young Adult Ambassador award to Fabiola Ramirez
We were thrilled to celebrate Fabiola Ramirez, who will continue as the HLAA Youth Ambassador for 2025-26—congratulations, Fabiola! Your dedication and leadership inspire us all. Special thanks to Nanci and Anna for bringing extra treats that added a sweet touch to the gathering. It was a night of all treats and no tricks, where everyone left with full hearts and smiling faces.
The presence of those who attend, warmth, and generosity continue to make our HOPE Meetings a place of encouragement and joy. Until next time—stay connected and keep spreading the hope!
If you would like to learn more or host our next HOPE gathering, please email us!
A group of chapter friends enjoyed an outing to a captioned movie, The Naked Gun. No complicated devices, no tech hiccups, just a smooth, relaxing experience where everyone could fully engage with the film. For many, it was the first time to truly feel included in a theater setting, where accessibility wasn’t an afterthought but simply part of the experience.
We had a wonderful presentation by Rebecca Lewis, Au.D., who shared the journey from considering a cochlear implant to implementation. It covered key topics such as how cochlear implants work, who may be a candidate, when to consider an evaluation, and the importance of early intervention. After viewing, you will have a better understanding of the technology and how it bypasses damaged parts of the ear to directly stimulate the auditory nerve.
It was standing-room only at our Hearing Other People’s Experiences (HOPE) meeting on February 22, where about 15 people gathered, including several new to HLAA. Attendees shared their heartfelt hearing loss stories and supported each other for two hours and many stayed afterwards to continue the conversation, while enjoying the brunch feast provided by our “hostess with the mostess” Georgia Fleischer. The theme of our sharing seemed to be “We are all family and never alone.”
HLAA National even sent a photographer to shoot some photos for their upcoming magazine and other channels, with Communications representative and longtime HLAA-LA member Teri Breier present to relay the latest updates.