Advocacy

Our Impact in the Community

HLAA-CS works for people with hearing loss at the local and State level for:

communication access
public policy
research
public awareness, and
service delivery

HLAA Colorado Springs is involved in community outreach for people with hearing loss:

to promote awareness
to improve hearing access
to offer education and support
to introduce technology for communication access

Current HLAA Colorado Springs Chapter Advocacy Involvement Includes:

Open Captioned Movies
Let's Loop Colorado
Communication Access in the Healthcare Setting
Hearing Accessibility at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver

If you are interested in being involved in any of these community issues, email Vickie at [email protected]

HLAA Colorado Springs Chapter Advocacy Successes

Ensuring Live CART Captioning at a Waldo Canyon Fire Field Briefing

Community Education about HLAA-CS and Hearing Assistive Devices (HAT)

Provided Hearing Loop for Classes at Pillar Institute for Lifelong Learning

Colorado Professional Convention in Colorado Springs

HLAA-CS provided full funding for Assistive Listening Devices (ALDs) to the following facilities:

Academy Christian Church
United Methodist Church
Lighthouse Temple (partial funding)

As a result of our advocacy for hearing-accessible venues, hearing loops were installed in:

The Venue at Pikes Peak Library District Library 21c*
County Commissioners Auditorium**
City Council Chambers
Community Room, Gold Hill Police Station
Liberty Heights Senior Living***

*Made possible, in part, with major funding provided by Rocky Mountain Sertoma
**Made possible, in part, with funding provided by HLAA-CS, and with great cooperation with the El Paso County ADA Coordinator, Rob Hernandez

***Made possible, in part, with funding provided by the Gleneagle Sertoma Organization

Personal Hearing Loop Receivers

Desktop Loop at 21c Library Help Desk

Hospital Kits
funded by HLAA-CS

It is important to be a prepared patient to let medical staff know that you have hearing loss, and to let them know how best to communicate with you when you are hospitalized, or when you undergo outpatient procedures with anesthesia.
Keep one for yourself, or give one to a friend, family member, or neighbor who has hearing loss.

Kits Contain:

Information about how to get your attention:

"Please Face Me" button for your gown
Communication Tip Cards to post at bedside or above the bed
Pad and Pen
Identifiable Stickers to advise staff of your hearing loss (great to use at the nurse-station intercom, and on your charts and medical information)
Symbol Chart when verbal communication is not possible
Assistive Listening Devices catalog
Container for your hearing aids
"Join the Club" Flyer for HLAA-CS

Ann Belfiglio, past President Colorado Springs Chapter, with Michael Killebrew, Colorado Springs ADA Coordinator.

Be sure to click the "cc" box after clicking on the video to open the captioning feature