Starting an HLAA Chapter or Support Group
Expanding local outreach in communities around the U.S. helps us empower more people with hearing loss.
Many chapters start as support groups and turn into chapters as they grow. You can start a support group with these simple steps:
Initial organizing
- Join HLAA
- Read about our Mission and Impact
- Fill out the Interest Form
- Find at least three unrelated HLAA members in your community interested in forming a chapter
- Determine your schedule and start meeting
Building members and momentum
HLAA will work with you to provide a mailing list of current members in your area for you to reach out to, so you can start building momentum.
- Ask local audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, primary care practices and others to refer clients to the chapter
- Invite local hearing care professionals to become advisers to the chapter
- Meet monthly, take turns serving as meeting facilitators
Meetings
- Identify an accessible and convenient public meeting place
- Schedule and publicize the meeting
- Share to local online publications and event calendars
- Post flyers on bulletin boards, at coffee shops, etc.
- At each meeting, introduce the benefits of joining an HLAA Chapter
Transitioning to a chapter
Once you have a core group and regular meetings, take the next steps to become an official HLAA Chapter. Reach out to us at chapters@hearingloss.org.