HLAA, the American Academy of Audiology (AAA) and Sertoma/Hearing Charities of America have agreed to collaborate on an educational campaign "Get in the Hearing Loop." The purpose of the campaign is to educate both consumers and professionals on a national and state level about the benefits of telecoils and hearing loops. This fits completely with our push for the last twelve years to get cell phones to be hearing aid compatible without the need for extra wires and plug-ins. The same goes for assistive technology – it should be hearing aid compatible to work with telecoils either through neck loops or loops. It should also be low cost, seamless, unobtrusive and effective. A highlight of the campaign is the 2nd International Hearing Loop Conference.
Let’s Solve the Mystery of Crystal City
In many of our convention materials we refer to the location of Convention 2011 as Washington, D.C., yet in the same breath we say that it will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City. How confusing is that? Let’s take the mystery out of Crystal City.
Crystal City is centered along a stretch of Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. 1) in Arlington, VA, just south of The Pentagon, just east of Pentagon City, and within walking distance to the west of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Characterized as one of many "urban villages" by Arlington County, Crystal City is almost exclusively populated by high-rise apartment buildings, corporate offices, hotels, and numerous shops and restaurants. There is also an extensive network of underground shopping areas and connecting corridors beneath Crystal City. For a visual, see the map of the D.C. Metro area. There you go, mystery solved!
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Meet Convention 2011 Keynote Speaker, Chris Artinian
The Hearing Loss Association is delighted to announce that Christopher J. Artinian, Chief Executive Officer and President of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc., will be the keynote speaker during the Opening Session at Convention 2011, June 16 – 19, 2011.
The Artinian family is the subject of the Oscar-nominated film Sound and Fury, which tells the story of brothers: Chris, who was born with hearing, and his older brother Peter, who was born deaf. Both brothers married and both had children who were born deaf. The difficult decision to provide cochlear implants for their children ripped the family apart. Chris and his wife Mari chose to have a cochlear implant for their son, while Chris’s brother and his wife Nita, decided they weren’t quite ready for such a medical procedure for their three deaf children. The families finally came full circle and have put the period of “fury” behind them.
Mark your calendar for Convention 2011 and this very special speaker. Chris will deliver the keynote speech during the Opening Session on Thursday, June 16th.
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Research Symposium
Great news! The Deafness Research Foundation (DRF) will sponsor the Research Symposium set for the morning of Friday, June 17th. Stay tuned for more information! The DRF is the leading national source of private funding for research in hearing and balance science.
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Convention Hotel
The Hyatt Regency Crystal City located at 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA is the official convention hotel for Convention 2011 – all exhibits, workshops and large sessions will take place here. A special reservation page will be set up soon to allow for online reservations – more details to come. Single/double rate is $159 + tax.
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Hyatt Regency Shuttle Service (with chair lifts)
Complimentary shuttle service to and from Reagan National Airport is available 5:00a.m. - Midnight. Pickup from the hotel runs every 20 minutes: at the top of the hour and 20 minutes and 40 minutes past the hour.
For guests who require transportation to the hotel, call 703-418-1234 in advance or use the courtesy phone in the baggage area. Look for the blue vans with white lettering “Hyatt Regency Crystal City.”
City and the hotel offers a free shuttle
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Getting Around
Metrorail
The Metrorail is a great way to travel to downtown D.C. Plan in advance by getting familiar with the Metro system by going to www.metroopensdoors.com. The Metro operates Sunday – Thursday, 6 a.m. – Midnight, and 8 a.m. – 2 a.m., Friday and Saturday. The Crystal City Metro station (on Blue and Yellow lines) is a 10-minute walk from the Hyatt Regency, or you make take the complimentary hotel shuttle which leaves the hotel every 15 minutes on the hour to the Crystal City Metro.
Crystal City Trolley
The Crystal City Trolley runs on a continuous loop throughout Crystal City, cost is 50 cents per ride. Pick up at hotel in 7 minute intervals, Monday – Friday, 6 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
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