AMC to add Open Captions

Accessible Entertainment, News

AMC LogoBig news was announced by AMC that 240 of their locations will now offer open captions for their movies at selected times. Keep in mind this isn’t all their locations but it’s a step in the right direction.

Moviegoers at locations offering open captions will be able to search for showtimes via the AMC website or their mobile app. Interestingly, this announcement comes just before the release of Disney’s Eternals film set to debut on November 5. The movie features deaf actress Lauren Ridloff as the first Marvel deaf superhero.

The hope is as people experience and see more of these captioning options, it will gain momentum for more movies and theaters to offer captioning. Let’s see what happens.

Read the full article.

AVA Presents at our October Meeting

Events, Meetings, Resources

When: Saturday, October 23, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. PT – 11 a.m. PT (but we may continue beyond 11 a.m.)
Where: Zoom meeting
Presenter: Pieter Doevendans – co-founder of AVA

AVA Captioning Logo

Come and join us for our October meeting. Join others for an informative and engaging presentation about the powerful AVA captioning app that easily allows you to live in a fully accessible world. Imagine a day when we will live in a 24/7 accessible world. AVA can help us get there!

 

 

Presenter:

Pieter Doevendans headshotPieter Doevendans, a co-founder of AVA, will present so grab some coffee and morning snacks and join us! There will be time afterward for questions and answers.
Learn more about AVA and their mission.

 

Any questions? Just email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

 

Fun at the Beach!

Chapter, Events, Fundraising, Social Event

Volley 4 sound banner

The chapter received wonderful news recently when Volley4Sound decided to make our chapter one of the recipients of a donation from them. Special thanks go to Kelsey Brandin for making this happen for the chapter!

This event will take place at beautiful Hermosa Beach on Sunday, October 10, and should be a wonderful time for all who attend. But, we need your help! We have the unique opportunity to have a booth to set up and provide HOH/deaf information and awareness to those attending. We’ll have printed materials, buttons, candy and big smiles to share but need volunteers to join in the fun and help man the booth!

Please consider volunteering or learn more by emailing us at info@hlaa-la.org.
Date: Sunday, October 10, 2021
Where: Hermosa Beach Pier
Time: Festivities start at 9 a.m. with booth setup time TBD

September Presentation Recap with Katherine Bouton

Accessible Entertainment, Meetings, Social Event

We had a wonderful presentation and discussion with Katherine Bouton during our September chapter meeting. Learning about Katherine’s personal hearing loss journey and relating that to our own hearing struggles or with family members was so appreciated.

Many of you noted you wanted to attend but couldn’t so our chapter meeting presentation recording with Katherine is available below or on our chapter Youtube channel.

Katherine is a former HLAA board member and an advocate and educator for the deaf and hard of hearing. She is the author of “Smart Hearing“, “Shouting Won’t Help“, and “Living Better with Hearing Loss“. We may explore having a book club discussion with Katherine and her books so if you are interested, just email us at info@hlaa-la.org.

 

Join Our Upcoming Online Chapter Meeting with Katherine Bouton

Meetings, News, Social Event

Katherine Bouton

Katherine Bouton, a former HLAA board member, is an advocate and educator for the deaf and hard of hearing. She is the author of “Smart Hearing“, “Shouting Won’t Help“, as well as “Living Better with Hearing Loss“.
Date: Saturday, September 25, 2021
Time: 10 – 11:30 a.m. PT

During this meeting, she will share with us how she learned to navigate the maze of hearing loss on her own, after suddenly losing her hearing at age 30. In the rapidly changing world of hearing aids, how she got hers and the various lessons learned.

Want some practical advice for getting your life back with hearing loss? Join us with an open discussion afterward to share your experiences and ask questions!

REGISTER

Don’t Miss the “We Hear You” Documentary!

Accessible Entertainment, Better Hearing, Events, Social Event
HLAA is proud to host a Talkback with the filmmakers of the award-winning documentary, “We Hear You.” Executive produced by HLAA members Holly Cohen, Shari Eberts and Roxana Rotundo, and also featuring HLAA member Toni Iacolucci, “We Hear You” was named Best Film on Disability in the June 2021 awards of the Cannes World Film Festival.

Important Note: You must register for the event first and then you will receive a link two weeks prior to the talkback event to watch the documentary. The documentary will not be shown during the September 23 Zoom Event.

REGISTER

Panelists
Holly Cohen

Holly Cohen

Sheri Eberts

Sheri Eberts

Toni Iacolucci

Toni Iacolucci

Roxana Rotundo

Roxana Rotundo

Moderated By
Gael Hannan

Gael Hannan

The Talkback will provide a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the documentary and give the filmmakers the opportunity to hear from you—the hearing loss community. You will receive a link to the Zoom Event when you register. We look forward to a fun and lively conversation about the film.

Learning About Wireless Audio Streaming for Modern Hearing Aids

Accessible Entertainment, Better Hearing, Hearing Loop, Resources

Hearing Tracker Logo

Hearing Loops and Bluetooth are hot topics of today for people with hearing aids that can support those technologies – which many do now. Do you know how they work and the latest developments with those technologies? Check out the insightful podcast from HearingTracker.com.

About the podcast:

In today’s episode, we speak with two hearing aid experts to learn about wireless audio streaming in modern hearing aids. Today’s hearing aids can stream multimedia and calls from your phone, but also have the ability to tap into shared audio streams through magnetic induction loops, or “hearing loops”, which are installed in public spaces like auditoriums and churches. While hearing loops are the current state of the art, we’ll also learn about the Bluetooth future of shared audio streams.

Speakers:

  • Andrew Bellavia – Director of Market Development at Knowles Electronics, a supplier of hearing aid hardware.
  • Dr. Juliëtte Sterkens – An audiologist and strong lifelong advocate for hearing loops and people with hearing loss.

Watch Podcast

The Essentials for Caring for Hard of Hearing and Deaf Seniors

Better Hearing, Resources

Caring for hearing of hearing elders imageAccording to the National Institute on Aging (NIH), approximately one in three people between the ages of 65 and 74 have hearing loss, and nearly half of those older than 75 have difficulty hearing. Yet for those who care for an elderly loved one, the additional challenges of their hearing loss is sometimes an afterthought.

Learn how to address these challenges beforehand to ensure your elderly loved one have the care and support they need while giving you peace of mind.

Special thanks to Noelle Bennett, a teacher and advisor at Learning Haven, for sharing this resource from her student Anna. Thank you Anna!

Overcoming Hearing Loss

News
Barbara Kelley

Barbara Kelley Executive Director Hearing Loss Association of America.

Hearing loss is a common problem, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. New technology may offer options to help you hear better. Our very own Barbara Kelley, who is the executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America, provides her insights in a June 2021 podcast. The podcast discusses what causes hearing loss, what you can do and overcoming the challenges faced.

VIEW PODCAST

What Losing My Hearing and Getting it Back Taught Me

Accessible Entertainment, Better Hearing

From a TEDx Talks presentation, Angela Irwin shares her journey from the hearing world to hard of hearing. Insightful thoughts and perspectives are shared by Angela as she dives into the challenges and transitions experienced between hearing and not. If you have a little time, have a view and see how these relate to your own personal hearing loss journey. Or perhaps someone you know with hearing loss.

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