December 2003 (Bethesda, MD and Somerset, NJ) - The Oticon Foundation has awarded Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) a $15,000 grant in support of the National Information and Training Center for Hearing Assistive Technology. The Center, to be housed at the SHHH offices in Bethesda, MD, will serve as a key resource on all aspects of technology for consumers with hearing loss, their families, professionals, educators in the field, industry and government personnel, as well as media representatives, and others. The Oticon Foundation, which is funded by income derived from its ownership of the majority of shares in the Oticon Company, awards grants to organizations worldwide that support the needs and interest of people with hearing loss. The SHHH grant is one of two Oticon Foundation grants awarded in the United States in 2003.
"Assistive technology can help people with hearing loss overcome obstacles of noise, distance and poor room acoustics which can greatly interfere with speech understanding," states Mikael Worning, President, Oticon, Inc. "As a company committed to putting the needs of People First, we are pleased to partner with SHHH in establishing a center that will empower people with hearing loss to seek hearing solutions that meet their individual needs and preferences."
The Center will serve as a Washington, DC-area resource providing hands-on opportunities for learning about assistive technology and the way this technology can stretch the benefits of advanced technology hearing solutions. More importantly, the impact of The Center will be expanded nationwide as The Center staff promotes better understanding about hearing assistive technology, teaches others how to organize state-of-the-art demonstration centers in their communities and provides ongoing support to a variety of governmental, nonprofit, and other institutions. Technology and resources will include devices compatible with hearing aids and cochlear implants; assistive listening systems; adaptive telecommunication products and services; alerting devices; captioning tools; and more.
The Center is established in response to the growing demand for practical information about how people with hearing loss can independently improve their access to communication. SHHH Executive Director Terry Portis says, "Technology is vital for enhancing communication for people who are hard of hearing. The Center will focus on providing relevant and leading edge information as well as promoting the importance of hearing assistive technology. We believe this effort will make a critical difference in improving the quality of life for thousands of people across the country."
Apart from the need to improve awareness about assistive technology, there is also a need for better understanding of policy issues that affect access to advanced technology hearing solutions and hearing assistive technology. The Center staff, working together with the SHHH director of state development, will conduct trainings for state and chapter leaders on a range of topics that impact technology access such as Medicare, Medicaid or other insurance reimbursement for hearing aids and cochlear implants, the utilization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to obtain effective assistive technology through a child's Individualized Education Program, and the ADA's requirement for effective communication access.
For more information about the Center and SHHH, please contact Elissa Brooks (ebrooks@hearingloss.org) at 301-657-2248. For information about Oticon Foundation grants, please contact Donald Schum, PhD,/CCC-A (djs@oticonus.com) at 1-800-227-3921.
About SHHH
Headquartered in Bethesda, MD, Self Help for Hard of Hearing People (SHHH) impacts accessibility, public policy, research, awareness, and service delivery on a national and global level. Through its 250 chapters and 13 state organizations, SHHH is a national support network that makes a difference in peoples' lives through information, connection and representation. Their primary message is that hearing loss is a challenge you can overcome, you do not have to hide hearing loss, and you do not have to face hearing loss alone. For more information go to their website, www.hearingloss.org.
About The Oticon Foundation
Founded in 1957, the Oticon Foundation sponsors social and educational programs, publications, conferences, cultural activities and campaigns - both for researchers, hearing care professionals and the general public. The Foundation's statutes mandate that income be used to support the needs of hearing-impaired individuals as well as organizations that serve people with hearing loss. Income is derived through the Foundation's ownership of the majority of shares in the Oticon Company. For information about Oticon Foundation grants, please contact Donald Schum, PhD,/CCC-A (djs@oticonus.com) at 1-800-227-3921.
Click here to visit the Oticon website.
Oticon Foundation Awards Grant to SHHH for National Information and Training Center for Hearing Assistive Technology
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