League Buzz
Issue 11
You’re reading the League Buzz, May, 2006. Issue 11.
Go ahead…Spread the Buzz. Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
MAY IS BETTER SPEECH AND HEARING MONTH!
The sun is shining, the flowers in bloom, the birds are chirping…but can you hear them? May is Better Speech and Hearing month, sponsored by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. This month is dedicated to raising awareness about the precious gift of hearing. According to Amy Boyle, Director of Public Education at the League for the Hard of Hearing, “This is a perfect opportunity to educate children, teens and adults about protect their hearing.”
Following another successful International Noise Awareness Day on April 26th, this is yet another chance to take the time to stop and think about the importance of hearing health. For more information about hearing conservation, check out the League’s Noise Center and click on “noise fact sheets.” http://www.lhh.org
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
Call Mom! Mother’s Day is right around the corner so why not help mom keep in touch with friends and family by giving her the gift of a new amplified phone. Clarity, a company specializing in assistive technology, has recently introduced a new technological breakthrough in digital phones called Digital Clarity Power. Instead of just turning up the volume, these phones can actually separate the sound of a human voice and suppress background or sudden noises. Not only can you modify the volume, adjustments can also be made if Mom uses an analog or digital hearing aid or no aid at all!
Check out these phones and others at SoundBytes www.soundbytes.com - or, if you are planning a trip to the League anytime soon, stop in to the SoundBytes store and take a look for yourself. Your Mom will thank you.
NO NEED TO ASK TWICE, COME CHECK OUT AN ASSISTIVE DEVICE! Free Device Demonstration
Tuesdays from 1pm to 2pm
Located at the League's office at 50 Broadway, New York City
Please call (917) 305-7700 or email info@lhh.org for more information.
LEAGUE ANNUAL MEETING
As the League marches toward 100, we invite all League friends and family, including clients, parents, grandparents, alumni and members to join us for our 96th Annual Meeting highlighting the past year and discussing the exciting year ahead. Join us on Tuesday, May 2 at 3:00pm, 52 Broadway, 2nd Floor, NYC. To RSVP please call (917)305-7820 or email info@lhh.org.
CURTAIN UP
Playwrights Horizons presents a special Open Captioned performance of The Busy World is Hushed, a new play by Keith Bunin, featuring Christine Lahti, Hamish Linklater, and Luke MacFarlane, Directed by Mark Brokow. Sunday, June 4 at 2:30pm at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater located at 416 West 42nd Street between 9th & 10th Avenues. Limited number of reduced price tickets $32.50 (reg. $65) are available. Limit 2 tickets per order. Subject to availability. To Order (mention code “BWOC” to receive discount), visit www.playwrightshorizons.org or call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily) or TTY (800) 662-1220.
LIGHT THE LIGHTS
The Theater Access Project (TAP) announces an Open Captioned performance of Julie Taymor´s famous staging of the classic 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King on Tuesday, May 30th at 8:00pm at the New Amsterdam Theater located at 214 West 42nd Street. Elton John composed the music, with lyrics by Tim Rice. There are only a limited number of tickets still available. To purchase tickets, contact Fran Polino, Associate Director of TAP at (212) 221-1103 or franp@tdf.org.
TAP is also proud to announce an Open Captioned performance of Shining City on June 3rd at 2pm at the Biltmore Theater located at 261 West 47th Street. Set in Dublin, Conor McPherson’s play tells the story of a man who comes to a counselor seeking help concerning the ghost of his recently deceased wife. Originally produced at London’s Royal Court Theatre to critical acclaim, the production stars Brian F. O'Byrne, Oliver Platt and Martha Plimpton. Robert Falls directs. To purchase tickets, contact Fran Polino, Associate Director of TAP at (212) 221-1103 or franp@tdf.org.
IN THE NEWS
On Tuesday, April 18th, Jane Fonda appeared on CNN’s Larry King Live. When asked if she had expected to win her second Oscar, she replied, “No. I didn't. That was a surprise. I was prepared and I actually accepted it in sign language.” King asked “Why?” and Fonda replied, “Because I found out there were 17 million deaf people in the United States [at that time] and the Academy Awards were not closed-captioned. I tried to get them to close caption and they wouldn't do it. So I decided to do my thing in sign language.” Earlier that day, Heath Alter, a League client who receives communication therapy at the League, visited a local Barnes & Noble where Jane Fonda was hosting a book signing. When Ms. Fonda found out that he was deaf, she welcomed him to the front row to make sure that he could read her lips. When he requested a photograph, not only did she happily oblige, but she said, “Your speech is so good!” Mr. Alter was thrilled to report that back to Linda Kessler, his speech & language pathologist.
TAKE ACTION
There is a bill being discussed in the House and the Senate that would provide some financial coverage for hearing aids. It was sponsored in the House by Rep. Jim Ryun (R-KS) and in the Senate by Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) and is known as "Hearing Aid Assistance Tax Credit Act." If passed, it would provide $500 per ear, once every five years, to people age 55 and older, and dependents, for hearing aids. In the House of Representatives, the bill is known as H.R. 414 and in the Senate, it is S. 1060. The League encourages everyone to write letters and/or emails to your congressional representative and your congressional senator urging them to support these bills. For contact information, visit www.congress.org and enter your zip code.
DOWNTOWN NYC AWARD BREAKFAST
Join the League and Event Chair Robert R. Douglass, Chairman, Alliance for Downtown New York in honoring Charles Urstadt, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of Urstadt Biddle Properties Inc. and “Father of Battery Park City” at the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanitarian Award Breakfast on Wednesday, May 17th at 1 Chase Plaza, NYC. Registration begins at 7:45am and breakfast concludes at 9:30am. The keynote speaker will be the honorable John Cahill, Secretary to New York Governor George E. Pataki. For more information about this breakfast or to purchase tickets, please call (917) 305-7804 or email events@lhh.org.
CALLING ALL HEARING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS & PARENTS
For a League Conference, entitled “Beyond the Pure Tone Audiogram: Converging Paths to Spoken Language in Children with Hearing Loss.” Friday, May 19, 2006, registration begins at 8:30am, 52 Broadway, 2nd Floor, NYC
Keynote speakers: Dr. Mark Ross and Dr. Arthur Boothroyd.
Conference recommended for: audiologists, speech and language pathologists, teachers of the deaf, parents and students. This program is offered for .5 CEU Credits. For more information, please contact Amy Boyle, Director of Public Education at (917) 305-7809 or aboyle@lhh.org
TEE TIME
8th Annual Golf Tournament with Participating Celebrity Sports Legends
Tuesday, June 6, 2006, registration at 10:00am, Sunningdale Country Club, Scarsdale, NY. Join the League for a full day of Tournament golf, including brunch, VIP cocktail reception, full dinner and an awards presentation with grand raffle. Added to this event for 2006 is the exciting opportunity to play golf with NY Sports Legends, including Mike Torrez, 1977 Yankees World Champion, Ed Kranepool, 1969 Miracle Mets, Ralph Branca, Brooklyn Dodgers, and many more. For more information please call (917)305-7804 or email events@lhh.org.
AROUND TOWN
The League is pleased to support the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), formerly Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH), inaugural Downstate New York Walkathon (3.1 miles), called Walk4Hearing, to take place in Yorktown Heights, NY, on Saturday, May 6, at 10 a.m. There will also be walks in Rochester, New York as well as in Pennsylvania, Texas and California. HLAA’s goal for the Walk4Hearing is to raise awareness of the causes and consequences of hearing loss.
SOUND SOLUTION
FREE Hearing Screenings
Every Tuesday, noon-2pm
Every Thursday, 4pm-6pm
Location: 50 Broadway, 6th Floor
When was the last time that you had your hearing screened? Not since elementary school? Chances are, your hearing has changed.
Call (917) 305-7766 or email appointments@lhh.org to reserve a screening time.
SAVE THESE DATES
Cochlear Implant Support Group for individuals who have a cochlear implant, those who are contemplating a cochlear implant or those who desire information about cochlear implants. All are invited to share, listen, learn, teach…and support. This group has no affiliation with any particular implant center. Next Meeting: May 25, 2005 at 50 Broadway, 2nd Floor from 5:30pm to 7pm. William Shapiro, Director of Audiology at the NYU cochlear implant center will be speaking about bilateral cochlear implants. Light refreshments will be served. Please bring your questions, comments and personal experiences. A New York State Licensed Audiologist with expertise in cochlear implants will serve as the facilitator. For more information, call or email the Audiology Department at (917)305-7751.
The League’s NF2 Support Group
Next meeting: Tuesday, May 2, 2006 at 50 Broadway, 6pm, room TBA. Individuals with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and their families continue to meet every two or three months. Meetings are captioned, light refreshments are served, and all are welcome! Please join us. For more information, call or email Ilene Miner at Voice/TTY 917-305-7730 or iminer@lhh.org.
Program Exclusively for Families and Friends of the League at MoMA
The Museum of Modern Art is delighted to invite families and friends of the League for the Hard of Hearing to join for Places and Spaces, a special event at the Museum of Modern Art on Saturday, May 6, 2006. The morning will begin at 9:30 am (30 minutes before the museum officially opens to the public) with check-in at the Information Desk in the main lobby of the Museum. Families will then engage in a lively discussion on Places and Spaces in Modern Art led by a museum educator and enjoy art activities in the Museum’s galleries until 11:00 A.M. This fully accessible interactive program is recommended for children ages 4-14 years old. Space is limited and pre-registration is required, so please sign up today! RSVP to Astrid Flores at (917) 305-7820 or aflores@lhh.org by Monday, May 1. MoMA located on 53rd between 5th and 6th Avenues.
The League’s Adolescent Workshop
The Adolescent Workshop, for kids in mainstream classes, grades 5-8, will take place on Sunday, November 12, 2006 from 10am-3pm. Students and parents are invited to join us for a day of sharing, learning and making new connections. For more information or to put you name on the mailing list, please contact Dorene Watkins at 917-305-7881 or dwatkins@lhh.org
TRIVIA
- What was the first Soap Opera to offer Closed Captioning?
- Which cartoonist is deaf?
- Who learned American Sign Language from the White House police?
THANK YOU FOR READING THE LEAGUE BUZZ
The League for the Hard of Hearing’s mission is to improve the quality of life for infants, children and adults with all degrees of hearing loss.
We accomplish our mission by providing hearing rehabilitation and human service programs for people who are hard of hearing or deaf, and their families, regardless of age, ability to pay, or mode of communication, and by striving to empower consumers to achieve their potential. We hope that you enjoy the League Buzz, our premier email newsletter!
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For more information on the League for the Hard of Hearing, visit www.lhh.org or call 917-305-7700.
DID YOU GET THEM RIGHT? TRIVIA ANSWERS:
- “Days of Our Lives" was the first soap opera to be Closed Captioned (they had a story line on at the time about a woman who was deaf).
- Cartoonist Carl Anderson creator of the cartoon "Henry" is deaf.
- Archie Roosevelt (son of Teddy Roosevelt)
