New England HLAA Chapters Turn Out for All-Day Workshop
May 17, 2019: People came from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont for a day of learning and dialog. HLAA Central Massachusetts Chapter Leader Beth Wilson, Ph.D., and members of that chapter organized the event at the Northborough (MA) Public Library.
Kevin Franck, Ph.D., HLAA Board of Trustees member and director of audiology at the Mass. Eye and Ear Institute, talked about Over-the-Counter hearing devices. He walked the audience through how the new law for OTC came about, why, and what the future might look like.
HLAA Executive Director Barbara Kelley spoke in the afternoon about HLAA and reflected on the last 40 years of the organization. She also enthusiastically talked about the work of HLAA now and what we can look forward to in the future.
Stephen A. Florio, the new commissioner of the Massachusetts Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing attended and encouraged HLAA Chapter members to get involved in advocacy and make their voices heard. He cited the recent Maryland hearing loop law that Governor Hogan signed as an example of what people can do in their states.
Peggy Ellertsen, Newton resident and member of the HLAA Board of Trustees, said, “I noticed on all of the faces of people in the room what I think was a sense of great pride in the quality of what our association continues to accomplish.”
Thank you to all the HLAA members and guests who came out for the day.
