letsloopseattle

Sometimes advocacy shouts. Sometimes it whispers.

The United States Access Board often does its work quietly. They make sure that rules and standards include the greatest number of people possible, regardless of mobility, hearing status, or visual acuity. The Access Board also offers training, and they review complaints from the public (that means you!) when a lack of access is found in a federally funded facility.

Thank you, Karen Braitmayer and the Access Board, for being a quiet force in the drive toward hearing accessibility.

You’re invited. Yes, you!

The City of Seattle Council Chambers are now looped. Come celebrate with us and try out the loop.

Hearing Loop Celebration
September 22, 2015
2-3pm
City Council Chambers
600 4th Avenue, Second Floor
Entrances on both Fourth and Fifth Avenues between Cherry and James

Such an outstanding article in the Wall Street Journal, written by dear friend and advocate Dr. David Myers, about hearing technology and loops in particular.

Thank you, Dr. Myers and WSJ editors, for honoring the needs of people with hearing loss and how simple technologies change lives dramatically.

Thank you to everyone who showed up to represent HLA-WA and people with hearing loss at the ADA 25th Anniversary Celebration at Westlake Center July 22, 2015.

We were proud to speak out about how the ADA helps people with hearing loss make sure that hearing access is not just a suggestion, but a requirement.

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This 1992 ad from a Seattle paper reminded businesses of their need to provide signs showing their ADA compliance. We still stress the need for hearing access signs and are thrilled to see them.

Some of us remember the day in 1990 the ADA was signed into law by George H.W. Bush. We also remember the opposition from businesses and others who were concerned about costs, rules, big government, and so on.

But mostly we remember feeling thrilled that now the law reinforced what we already knew: Everyone counts. Everyone matters. Everyone’s contributions should be expressed to the fullest—with assistance and accommodation where needed, with removing barriers whenever possible, with respect and dignity to all.

The ADA has since been used to litigate (or ensure) thousands of times to secure access: curb cuts, ASL, CART, open and closed captions, ramps, parking, employment discrimination, TTYs, Braille…the list goes on and on.

We’ll keep advocating until ADA hearing access is automatic–a given, not something to be begged for or demanded, but rather an integral part of serving all Americans in their work, play, and civic lives. Hearing loops are one way to do that, and loops are arriving in more and more places.

Happy 25th Birthday, Americans with Disabilities Act. May you live long and prosper!