Hearing Loss Association of America - Diablo Valley Chapter

There are over 220,000 people with hearing loss in Contra Costa County. Everyone knows someone with this problem— grandparents, husbands, wives, children, friends and colleagues.

The Hearing Loss Associaton of America-Diablo Valley Chapter offers hope to people with hearing loss and their families. Many of us are can no longer hear well enough to participate in mainstream life without assistance. Captions, assistive listening systems and sign language interpreters are vital for us. We host monthly meetings about a wide variety of topics related to hearing loss. They are captioned, we have a hearing loop assisitve listening system and ASL on request. 

Unfortunatley hearing loss is a grossly underserved, unrecognized, disorder. People are shocked to discover most health insurance does not cover the very expensive cost of hearing aids and there is no routine testing for hearing loss like other health issues.

 In 2016 in addition to hosting monthly meetings we particpated in the following events:

1. hosted our first ever completely accessible chapter meeting, ASL, captions, hearing loop and PA
2. hosted 7 information outreach events
3. trained 50 HICAP volunteers about communicating with people with heairng loss
4. distributing literature to all the Senior Centers in Contra Costa County and all Kaiser Permanente Hearing Centers in N CA
5. provided consulting services about hearing loss to the Lafayette Community Foundation, Aging by Design
6. collaborated with DCARA to improve services in Contra Costa County, lipreading and ASL classes

Successfully advocated for effective communication:

1. UCSF Cochlear Implant Center
2. DCARA, hearing loop
3. Mechanics Bank, assistive listening devices
4. Kaiser Permanete, health videos are now captioned, health audio podcasts have transcripts, Kaiser published Guidelines for Members with Disabilities
5. Rossmoor, provided consulting services resulting in upgrading 12 hearing loops
6. Walnut Crrek, assisitve listening devices for some classes and library events
7. Captions for Catherine Baker & Steven Glazer Town Hall meeting.
8. State Board of Equalization Workshop for Nonprofits

We are all volunteers dedicted to helping people with hearing loss and making Conta Costa County more accessible for people with our disorder.

Donate now to improve our community!