Captioned Radio Premieres Election Night

NPR, in conjunction with other communications organizations, is spearheading an initiative to make radio more accessible to people with hearing loss. Headquartered at Towson University in Maryland, the International Center for Accessible Radio Technology (ICART) has developed a new captioned radio system that can be used with specially equipped HD Radio receivers.

On election night, a select audience of people who are deaf or hard of hearing have been invited to see a demonstration of the new captioned radio technology. They'll gather at NPR stations in Baltimore, Boston and Denver and NPR headquarters in D.C. to see NPR's news programming made accessible for the first time. Additionally, NPR will make its election night programming accessible to a national audience through live online captioning at npr.org. Captioning is provided by WGBH's Media Access Group. The League applauds all of those involved in this important initiative.

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Join Us For "Breaking the Sound Barrier"

Calling all kids in grades 5-8 and their parents to take part in the League's Turning Points Workshop Sunday, November 16 from 9:30am-3:00pm. This year's program, "Breaking the Sound Barrier," is an opportunity to meet other kids with a hearing loss, take part in some neat activities, and hear from high school students who've "been there, done that." It's a day designed for fun, entertaining discussion and meeting new friends.

On hand will be Caitlin Parton, a graduate of the League and one of the world's first cochlear implanted toddlers. Caitlin's story is a remarkable one. She testified before Congress at the age of 5 and was the subject of a 60 Minutes interview at 6. Mainstreamed throughout her whole education, Caitlin will talk about her encounters with teachers and classmates and how she managed to navigate her way through the system. Caitlin is now a graduate of the University of Chicago and involved in civil rights law.

For more information, please phone Dorene Watkins at (917) 305-7881 or email her at dwatkins@lhh.org. Participants can register for the workshop now through November 9th by using the online registration form.

See registration form

Thanks to All For a Successful Feast

Thanks to all who took part in Feast with Famous Faces October 27th at Chelsea Piers. You made this year's event a smashing success.

A tremendous thank you, of course, to Governor Paterson who reminded us all of the importance of assuring a world without limits for children and adults with hearing loss. More Feast details to come.

See the restaurants who generously took part

League Graduate Mariella Paulino Wins Award

We're thrilled to inform you that Mariella Paulino has won the Oticon Focus on People Award (student category). This is a national awards program honoring hearing impaired students whose accomplishments demonstrate that hearing loss does not limit a person's ability to make a difference in their families, communities or the world.

Mariella has been involved with the League since she was eight years old, and many of you know her incredible story. Currently, she is attending New York University on a full scholarship.

For this honor, Mariella will be flown to Denver by Oticon to attend the honors ceremony. She, as well as the charity of her choice, will receive $1000. We are delighted that Mariella has chosen the League to be the recipient. We are proud of Mariella and her many accomplishments. We also would like to thank speech-language pathologist Linda Kessler for nominating her.

Read "Hear My Story" by Mariella

Project PATH Screens 10,000 Preschoolers

An extraordinary milestone took place quietly on October 8, 2008. At the St. Mark's Head Start Center in Brooklyn, a 4 year old boy became the 10,000th preschooler to have a hearing screening as part of the League for the Hard of Hearing's Project PATH (Preschool Access to Hearing).

Project PATH, launched in 2005, is a hearing health initiative that provides hearing screenings to preschoolers throughout underserved New York City neighborhoods. The screenings, conducted by League audiologists in specially equipped Mobile Hearing Test Units, are offered at no cost due to generous foundation and private support.

The impact of Project PATH has been immense. To date, more than 2,500 children (26%) have failed the hearing screening and been referred for a full diagnostic evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss is critical to successful development of a child's linguistic, cognitive, social and emotional skills. With early intervention and timely treatment, every New York City child can have the opportunity to realize his or her full potential.

For a complete list of Project PATH foundation supporters or to make a donation, check out the link below.

More about Project PATH

Sound Advice

This month Ruth Bernstein wants to hear from you. Use the link below to email Ruth your questions, share experiences, and let off some stream if you'd like.

Email Ruth

TRU Honors Arlene Romoff at Benefit Luncheon

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) is honoring League Board member Arlene Romoff at a benefit luncheon on Sunday, November 9th at Carolines on Broadway. Arlene, who is President of the New Jersey chapter of HLAA, is being honored for her advocacy work in connection with theater captioning. The League's Executive, Director, Laurie Hanin, is pleased to be a member of the Honorary Benefit Committee!

Bravo, Arlene! You are more than deserving - a role model for all advocates.

RSVP to attend the luncheon

Make an Online Donation

The League is a not-for-profit organization that relies on private donations, without which our programs and services would not be possible. By helping to fund programs like Project PATH, your donations can transform the lives of children and young adults with hearing loss. Help us create many more success stories like Mariella's. Please donate today.

Click here to make a secure online donation.

The League was founded in New York in 1910 and is the premier hearing rehabilitation and human services agency in the world for infants, children and adults who are hard of hearing, deaf and deaf-blind, and their families.

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