FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 28, 2016
CONTACT:
Ronnie Adler
Director of Walk4Hearing
radler@hearingloss.org
2016 HLAA Walk4Hearing Encourages You to Step Up for People
with Hearing Loss and Communication Access!
@Walk4Hearing #CommAccess
Bethesda, MD: The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s leading organization representing people with hearing loss, is pleased to announce the start of the 2016 Walk4Hearing program. The Walk4Hearing, now in its eleventh year, has raised over $10 million for people with hearing loss, and is the largest event of its kind in the United States. Thousands of people come out each year to walk in support of those with hearing loss. The theme for this year’s HLAA Walk4Hearing is Step Up for People with Hearing Loss and Communication Access! Join the conversation on the Walk4Hearing Facebook page and on Twitter @Walk4Hearing, #CommAccess.
The HLAA Walk4Hearing increases awareness about hearing loss, helps to eradicate the stigma associated with it, and raises funds to provide information and support for people with hearing loss. Money raised through the HLAA Walk4Hearing serves several purposes, assisting both local programs to provide much needed services for their hearing loss community, as well as furthering the efforts of HLAA in their national support and advocacy work.
With this year’s theme, Step Up for People with Hearing Loss and Communication Access!, the HLAA Walk4Hearing is issuing a call to action, not just for walkers, but for all 48 million people in the U.S. who have a hearing loss – and their families and loved ones – to step up and advocate for better communication access for themselves.
“There’s nothing like seeing family, friends and alliance partners come together on walk day for a common goal – to create awareness, raise funds, and have fun,” said HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley. “The Walk4Hearing is one of HLAA’s most visible programs in support of those with hearing loss, and we want to use that visibility to encourage people to seek better communication access in their daily lives.”
Hearing loss is an invisible condition, and many who experience it face challenges in their everyday lives that people with more visible disabilities do not. But there are steps people with hearing loss can take to gain greater access to communication, and we would like to challenge people to take some of those steps to ultimately improve their quality of life.
It is our goal to start the conversation and provide tips for both those with and without a hearing loss to better communicate. By providing suggestions and information we hope to inspire and encourage people to advocate for communication access. We also invite people to share their ideas and success stories on the Walk4Hearing Facebook page and on Twitter@Walk4Hearing, #CommAccess. Don't have a Facebook or Twitter account but still want to share your photo, ideas and success stories? No worries, send them to CalltoActionWalks@hearingloss.org with "Call to Action" in the subject line.
The HLAA Walk4Hearing takes place in 22 cities across the country. Spring Walks begin in May and go through June, and Fall Walks begin in September and go through November. Find a Walk near you by looking at the complete list of dates and locations. Each Walk4Hearing event will have information available to assist walkers, their families and loved ones on the journey to better communication access.
About the Hearing Loss Association of America
The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, support and advocacy. In addition to the Walk4Hearing, HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions (Convention 2016 is in Washington, DC, June 23 – 26), advocates for the rights of people with hearing loss, conducts educational webinars, and has an extensive network of chapters and state organizations across the country. For more information, visit hearingloss.org.