BE AN ADVOCATE

Whether you have a hearing loss, or know someone with a hearing loss, or are simply motivated to help create inclusive communities, there are lots of ways you can support and increase hearing access: support active legislation, ask for hearing loops, and build a movement!

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Get Klondike Gold Rush Museum and Other Local National Parks in the Loop

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Share your feedback with the National Park System (NPS) as they update their ADA accessibility plan for five NPS park locations in Washington State:

  1. Klondike Gold Rush Visitor Center and Museum
  2. Trail to Treasure walking tour/route through the Pioneer Square neighborhood
  3. Outdoor Recreation Information Center in the REI Seattle flagship store
  4. Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial, Minidoka
  5. Trails & Rails program aboard the Amtrak Coast Starlight train between Seattle and Portland

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While video captions and FM assistive listening systems are included in the plan, hearing loops are not. We know that loops are the most-preferred, best-loved, most user-friendly and universal system, so let’s let the National Parks know it, too.

Read more about the  National Parks’ ADA plan, and then make a public comment.

For more info and advice on what to say, read our public informational brief.

Note: The deadline is August 31, 2020, so take action NOW.

Ask for hearing loops wherever you go

You don’t have to consider yourself an advocate to ask for hearing loops! If you need help hearing in a public venue—a doctor’s office, a theater, an airport, a meeting room, or anywhere else—ask for the communications access you need.

Remember, you have the Americans with Disabilities Act on your side. Hearing loops provide ADA-compliant communication access.

You can use HLAA’s guidelines to help you with your request:

Requesting Hearing Accommodation in a Public Venue

Requesting Hearing Accommodation in the Workplace (published by the Job Accommodation Network)

For  more information about the national Get in the Hearing Loop Campaign, visit the HLAA site.

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Build a loop movement in your neighborhood

A hearing-friendly neighborhood starts with you.

Communities around the world have become looped because of the hearts and energy of people just like you. Many of these quiet, perhaps even reluctant activists began by simply asking a venue—a local theatre, a retirement community, a house of worship—for help to hear. Other people often follow, and a movement is born.

Increase awareness and understanding of hearing loss, and help create change

  • As you move through your normal activities, challenge yourself to imagine being unable to hear clearly. Challenge your assumptions.
  • Be empathetic to people with hearing loss and tell them how new technologies are enabling access (and send them to this website!)
  • Talk to your friends and family about hearing loss – watch for signs, allow people to express their fears, offer support, and be proactive
  • Ask your audiologist about telecoils and hearing loops
  • When you see the hearing loop symbol, write a thank you note to the venue
  • Join the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA)
  • Download the HLAA Get in the Hearing Loop toolkit. This professionally written, edited, designed, and branded kit will give your loop efforts credibility with sample letters, information, handouts, and even a sample PowerPoint.
  • Get involved in your local HLAA chapter. 

Learn how we created Let’s Loop Seattle. Download our presentation to discover how we overcame our barriers and how we developed, expanded, and made our vision happen.

Loops happen in areas where people like YOU make it so.