[NFB-DB] HLAA IMHO

[Janice Toothman]

Sheila,

How are you? How are things in Montana?

Are you still interested in helping us with Operation Outreach?  Do you 
still have your contact information for your states?

Janice

On 6/21/2016 1:33 AM, sheila leigland via NFB-DB wrote:
> hi, that is an interesting post. They are a group that I'm not 
> familiar with. I'll miss being at the db division meeting this year 
> but can't be an convention.I wish you all the best at the upcoming 
> convention.
>
> On 6/18/2016 8:48 AM, Catherine Miller via NFB-DB wrote:
>> 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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>>
>