[NFB-DB] HLAA IMHO

[Delcenia]

Good afternoon Cathy,

Well put! I wish I had seen this email two months ago. I say that because
after reading your message I went online to find out more information about
HLAA. Of course I had never heard of HLAA and there is not a chapter close
to where I live. It looks like they have a chapter about 40 minutes away and
the paratransit does not go there. I will try in August to attend their
meetings. Had I known, maybe I would have attended the convention with
Janice. We will see what next year holds.

Yes, we still have so much more work to do! I really hate that I am not able
to attend the convention this year. This year I am celebrating my 25th
wedding anniversary and have a family reunion to attend this is why I could
not attend the convention this year. 

Yes, Janice please do share what you learn from attending HLAA. I hope
everyone enjoy the convention in Orlando! 

Be safe and keep cool!
Delcenia 
-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-DB [mailto:nfb-db-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Catherine
Miller via NFB-DB
Sent: Saturday, June 18, 2016 10:49 AM
To: DB Division <nfb-db at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Catherine Miller <guillcat at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFB-DB] HLAA IMHO

Janice:  I agree with you, HLaa's resources are not very accessible.  And I
need the resources they have.  HLAA is a consumer organization for people
who are hard of hearing, just as NFB is a consumer organization for the
blind.  HLAA has sponsors who give them lots of money, and the sponsors make
great products with the latest technology, based on what HLAA members say
they need.  HLAA is the collective voice of people who are hard of hearing.
They are focused self advocates who have learned, just like the NFB, to get
what they need to make their lives better.

Their resources are not accessible to us because they have not yet heard our
message.  I wrote an email to them about their assistive technology
train-the-trainers program, and I got a reply acknowledging the need to
serve the DB and stating their willingness to work with DB people to modify
their train-the-trainers curriculum to accommodate us for a future grant
cycle.  

But you know what?  That won't happen until more of us inform them of our
interest in what they offer.  It's much easier to go around complaining
about how dismayed we are about the inaccessibility of their resources.  Our
job, in fact the reason we are here, is to educate them.  They are not
intentionally inaccessible.  They want to help, but Number 1, the government
keeps putting off their responsibility to establish and enforce Internet
accessibility standards, and Number 2, there is still a tremendous majority
of DB folks who have no voice.  They haven't yet heard our message.

This is a wake-up call.  There's a lot to complain about; but let's stop
complaining and allow our frustration to fuel our action.  There are
countless opportunities to announce, in a positive manner, the resources
that we want to access.  Technology has provided a viable means to obtain
the assistive devices that enable us to communicate.  Let's bridge the gap
by reaching out to the people who control those resources.  I can't do it
alone.  Our Division needs to be the collective voice of the DB Nation.
Let's focus on what our needs are and find the gatekeepers of the resources
that can meet those needs.  

People with hearing loss understand what it's like to be isolated.  They are
compassionate people, and we are walking parallel journeys.    

Congratulations, Janice, on making the effort to attend HLAA for one day.  I
know it's not easy, and you are expending precious resources to investigate
something you're hoping will be worthwhile.   I hope your experience there
will be as profound as mine  two years ago at my first HLAA Convention.
Don't miss the exhibits all.

Best,

Cathy 

  
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