Workshop Proposals

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) is soliciting workshop proposals for the HLAA 2026 Convention to be held June 10-12, 2026, at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, KY. Workshops will be scheduled for June 11 & 12. Presenters should be prepared to present on either of these dates. The proposal deadline is Friday, December 12, 2025.

Workshops will be one hour in duration – you should plan to leave time for 15 min Q&A and discussion. Presenters should plan on sending their PowerPoint presentation for posting in the Convention mobile app (posted as a PDF) by May 12, 2026, presentations may also be posted on the HLAA website post convention. Your presentation is also given to a CART provider to help them prepare in advance for your session.

Our education aims to empower individuals with hearing loss through education, support, advocacy and innovation, advancing accessibility and making a meaningful, lasting impact on lives and communities.

The goals of the Education Program are to:

• Empower and equip individuals with hearing loss with the knowledge, tools and confidence to live life fully.
• Foster connections among individuals with hearing loss, professionals, families and advocates.
• Spotlight innovative strategies, technologies and lived experiences.
• Promote inclusive communication access in all aspects of life.

Suggested Workshop Topics

We welcome diverse proposals that reflect the lived experience, expertise and innovation within the hearing loss community. Topics may include, but are not limited to:

• Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT): Explores evolving tech like apps, remote mics, captioning, listening systems and over-the-counter (OTC) devices. How do these innovations empower individuals with hearing loss and enhance care delivery for providers.
• Advocacy: Policy literacy and self-advocacy are crucial for accessibility in health care, employment and public life.
• Emotional Support and Well-Being: Examines the impact of hearing loss on mental health, family relationships, social connection and issues with aging into hearing loss. Promotes strategies for resilience and inclusive support.
• Hearing Health: Covers the audiological spectrum: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and hearing aid/implantable device use, surgical interventions and research.
• Employment and the Workplace: Workplace inclusion for people with hearing loss, focusing on accessibility, communication support and equitable employment practices that enable professional growth and success.
• Family and Caregiving: Highlights the role of family and caregivers in supporting individuals with hearing loss, focusing on communication dynamics and shared decision-making.
• Chapters and Leadership Development: Focuses on equipping current and future leaders with essential skills related to mentoring, succession planning, fundraising, public relations, outreach and strategies for growing membership.

Disclosure Statement

Disclose any and all, real or potential conflicts of interest. Name any and all professional, financial or personal affiliations which may cause the impression that bias or prejudice could affect the objectivity of material presented. Affiliations do not automatically disqualify a potential presenter.

Convention Mobile App

The mobile app contains a wealth of information including schedules, exhibitors, sponsors, maps and speakers. A profile will be set up in the app and include your name, email, title and company. We may also upload your documents, such as handouts, in the app so that attendees can see them after the convention.

Presenter Responsibilities (PLEASE READ CAREFULLY):

• Presenters agree to present in English and provide handout materials in English (handouts may also be uploaded to the Convention mobile app and the HLAA website post convention).
• Presenters do not receive a stipend from HLAA.
• Presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodation.
• Presenters must register for the Convention. Registration is free for all presenters on the day of their scheduled presentation. If they wish to arrive early, or stay beyond the day of their presentation, they may do so by paying the discounted registration fee of $225. Discount Code will be provided to accepted speakers in January.
• Presenters give permission to publish photos of their session.
• Presentations that market specific products and services are not acceptable.

Once proposals are accepted, PowerPoints must be submitted (MUST  USE HLAA PPT template) to: convention@hearingloss.org by May 12, 2026 – it will be forwarded to the CART provider for your workshop so that names and terminology may be added to their dictionary. It will also be posted as a PDF to the Convention mobile app – it should contain copyright information.

Deadline: Friday, December 12, 2025

Contact

Questions may be directed to Robin Gardiner, HLAA Events & Chapter Engagement Assistant Manager at rgardiner@hearingloss.org

A program committee will review all proposals. Not all proposals will be accepted due to space limitations.