Something to Think About…

 “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has.”

~Margaret Mead

Hearing Aid Meeting Follow Up

Little children and teenagers. Signers, cuers, speakers. Deaf adults, hearing parents. Folks who wear hearing aids and folks who’ve stopped because they can’t afford to replace outmoded hearing aids.

All these groups made up the audience at our first Town Hall meeting, 240 strong. We met in Darien, Illinois at Hinsdale South High School auditorium on April 13, 2008. Everyone present was brought up to date on the legislative effort to guarantee insurance coverage for hearing aids; everyone present is now better equipped to stand up and take action on behalf of hearing aid users.

Organized by Dennis O’Brien and Julie Chavez, the Town Hall was emceed by O’Brien. The afternoon began with a beautiful short film by Hands and Voices highlighting that the time is now for the effort we are undertaking. We heard from Rep. Patti Bellock of the 47th District, who detailed her part in working on behalf of this issue, highlighted some recent legislative efforts in Springfield regarding assistive listening devices–HB5600, HB4824, and HB5598, and exhorted everyone there to get involved by writing their representatives, meeting their legislators, going to Springfield. She assured the audience that it does in fact make a difference, and legislators will notice when their constituents make enough of a noise. Rep. Sandra Pihos (42nd District) sent legislative aide Lyn Refakes to the Town Hall.

Karen Putz of Illinois Hands and Voices told her story of losing her hearing as a child and getting only one aid, although two were needed, on account of the expense. Now managing a household of 5 bilateral hearing aid wearers, Karen knows just how high that expense can be in a way that not many others do. Audiologist Steve Gannaway spoke of the real need of older adults to maintain their hearing via aids so they can continue making their vital contributions to our culture. AG Bell board member and father of three Ajay Marwah itemized the expense of having one hard-of-hearing child get fitted with aids. His round figure of $10,000 is quite typical. Dennis O’Brien then addressed the audience, reshaping our thought about the function of hearing aids by comparing them to prosthetics. No one would deny insurance coverage for a prosthetic hand. How is it that ears are considered any different? Hearing is just as critical as the use of a hand.

Dennis also outlined the group’s approach to effect change. Done in committees overseen by a steering council, work will be broken down into five categories: events, research, media, advocacy and outreach, and fundraising. Everyone in the audience was encouraged to participate in any way they can in one of these committees.

Participants were invited to come to the microphone and share stories. John Miller of the Illinois Deaf and Hard of Hearing Commission, deaf lawyer Howard Rosenblum, co-founder of HEARD and mother of two hard-of-hearing children Jennifer Egetimeier, deaf and hard-of-hearing teenagers Aubrey Donofrio and Lauren Putz, father of two hard-of-hearing children and one hearing child Jay Welu, board member of the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Rehabilitation and mother of a child with bilateral cochlear implants Kristen Van Dyke, and many others came up and spoke eloquently on behalf of all users of hearing aids, old and young, late-deafened and born hard-of-hearing.

The case was made at the Town Hall, and in fact is self-evident: the time is now for action. The time is now for insurance coverage for hearing aids. The time is now–and based on what we saw April 13th in the Hinsdale South auditorium, this effort has the numbers, the backing, the organization, and the enthusiasm to succeed in 2008. Please join us as we take our case to Springfield.

Our thanks to:

Mr. Mike Matozzi, Dean of Student Affairs at Hinsdale South High School who was helpful in securing the auditorium for use.

Chicago Hearing Society interpreters

Ann Flannery for videotaping the event

Amber Smock of ADAPT for creating the “Four Ways to Take Action” flier

 

This post written by Julie Vassilatos