<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">This is exactly why I refuse to use rechargeable hearing aids. I still carry around batteries, but then I am never out of power for more than a couple of minutes every two weeks. I do think for Deafblind, rechargeable hearing aids are not often the best recommendation. No one is taking my batteries away from me!<div><br></div><div>But nevertheless, everyone should have choices and all medical equipment should be made accessible. I know the struggle of dealing with hearing aids in the hospital setting (just spent 3 weeks in the hospital in January for kidney transplant) and how out of control it can be to not have full access to your hearing aids. I’m sorry you had that issue and I totally support you on advocating for hearing aid manufacturers to shape up on this, as well as supporting the accessible medical equipment act.</div><div><br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">Lisa Ferris<div>Miles Access Skills Training, LLC</div><div>Blindmast.com</div></div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 29, 2024, at 9:14 AM, Rocky Hart via NFB-DB <nfb-db@nfbnet.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria Math"; }
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--><div class="WordSection1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Doula:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">First, I am glad to know that you are doing well and out of the hospital! I am sure it was a less than enjoyable experience.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">What you are describing is exactly why, when I went through my hearing aid evaluation at HKNC, I specifically requested that I be fitted with non-rechargeable hearing aids. I have neither vision nor light perception, so there is no way I could see the light. It is somewhat inconvenient to carry hearing batteries on me constantly, but I would much rather do this have troubleshoot the issue, given how important it is for me to rely on my hearing as much as possible, even though it has become more or less a tool at this point in my DeafBlindness journey.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I am curious what app and what brand of hearing aids you are using? I use Phonak hearing aids, and the app is very accessible—accept, of course, when you don’t have access to a phone, as it was in your situation.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">I hope all continues to go well for you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Sincerely,<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">Rocky Hart <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> NFB-DB <nfb-db-bounces@nfbnet.org> <b>On Behalf Of </b>Ineko Gary via NFB-DB<br><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, February 29, 2024 6:38 AM<br><b>To:</b> NFB Deaf-Blind Division Mailing List <nfb-db@nfbnet.org><br><b>Cc:</b> Ineko Gary <rubiigary@gmail.com><br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [NFB-DB] FW: sharing an inaccessibility challenge<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">GM hi Doula<span style="font-size:12.0pt"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I am so truly sorry that you ran into this awful awful problem. I hope they can fix this in the future for everyone. Even mostly for the people who are deaf, blind, those who are deaf, and wear hearing aids.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I am totally deaf. So my hearing aids only allows me to hear sound. No speech or voice. But I understand on how you feel. Because you’re hearing aids you really truly need for communication.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Again, I hope they’re able to fix this problem. And I’m so glad you have a wonderful, sweet husband that helps you out when you need it.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Sending all my prayers and love, and I hope you continue to get better and stronger.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Sending all my love always to you and your beautiful family.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Ineko <o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Sent from my iPhone<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Feb 29, 2024, at 7:02 AM, Kat Bottner via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div><p class="MsoNormal">Hi Doula,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">I ran into this exact problem back in 2023 while vacationing with family in New Orleans. To say it was definitely a struggle. The whole entire week is definitely an understatement. I do agree that passing the web and application accessibility act is a must for not just people who rely on hearing aids, but for the blind, and everyone else as well. getting this past, will help everyone with a disability and probably our sided counterparts as well<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">Kat.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><br><br><o:p></o:p></p><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">On Feb 29, 2024, at 6:51 AM, Doula Jarboe via NFB-DB <<a href="mailto:nfb-db@nfbnet.org">nfb-db@nfbnet.org</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></p></blockquote></div><blockquote style="margin-top:5.0pt;margin-bottom:5.0pt"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hey All,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> I initially sent this to my own affiliate’s listserv. However, wanted to share it here as well. Thanks.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Warmly,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Doula<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #E1E1E1 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>From:</b> <a href="mailto:doula.jarboe@gmail.com">doula.jarboe@gmail.com</a> <<a href="mailto:doula.jarboe@gmail.com">doula.jarboe@gmail.com</a>> <br><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 28, 2024 7:11 PM<br><b>To:</b> 'NFB of Colorado Discussion List' <<a href="mailto:colorado-talk@nfbnet.org">colorado-talk@nfbnet.org</a>><br><b>Subject:</b> sharing an inaccessibility challenge<o:p></o:p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Hi Everyone,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> As I mentioned, I’ve been in the hospital for about the last week and a half. I wanted to share an experience I had because of an inaccessible application. If people think I should write this up more formally for the Blog or the Monitor or some other publication, I can do so. But right now, I’m just wanting to share this experience with people who will understand because of our family and organization.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> So, most know I identify as DeafBlind. I wear hearing aids with rechargeable batteries. The charger has lovely little lights that light up when the hearing aids are charging properly. So helpful for me right? I also have an application on my phone that works with my hearing aids. Sort of. Some things work just great, some things have the button, some things you get into the section and there’s no information there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> Friday evening I moved from ICU to the regular hospital floor. One of my hearing aids was dying so I stuck it in the charger. Maybe an hour to an hour and a half later I pulled it back out to use it and was still receiving the low battery signal. So obviously not getting charged. Now I’m starting to worry because the other hearing aid is starting to die as well. Wes, my husband showed up to visit, and he’s both sighted and technology is his specialty. He finally figured out it was the charging cable that needed replacing. However, by the time he figured that out both hearing aids were completely dead. I spent a good while that night without the use of my hearing aids because I didn’t have full access to the application that could have told me pretty immediately that the hearing aid wasn’t charging. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"> That was my bad experience, if we can get the web and application accessibility act passed, something like this I might be able to avoid. Thank you for listening.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Warmly,<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Doula<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/kat.bottner%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/kat.bottner%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Aptos",sans-serif">_______________________________________________<br>NFB-DB mailing list<br><a href="mailto:NFB-DB@nfbnet.org">NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</a><br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</a><br>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:<br><a href="http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/rubiigary%40gmail.com">http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/rubiigary%40gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></p></div></blockquote></div></div><span>_______________________________________________</span><br><span>NFB-DB mailing list</span><br><span>NFB-DB@nfbnet.org</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-db_nfbnet.org</span><br><span>To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for NFB-DB:</span><br><span>http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfb-db_nfbnet.org/lisaferris%40icloud.com</span><br></div></blockquote></div></body></html>