ABOUT OUR CHAPTER
The Hearing Loss Association of Sun City Center Chapter is an affiliate of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation’s largest membership and advocacy organization for people with hearing loss. Founded as SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing People) in 1979 by Howard E. “Rocky” Stone, HLAA opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support.
INFORMATION – We provide information from technological and medical advances to coping and parenting strategies. We help you become an informed consumer on what options are available to you to help you make the best decisions on how to deal with hearing loss.
EDUCATION – Our primary purpose is to educate ourselves, our families, friends, coworkers, teachers, hearing health care providers, industry, government, and others about hearing loss.
ADVOCACY – HLAA is a leading voice in improving communication access for people with hearing loss in the workplace, hotels, schools, court systems, medical, and entertainment facilities.
SUPPORT – We provide an opportunity for association among people with hearing loss, their friends, families, and professionals.
Our clear, straightforward message has changed the lives of many people: Hearing loss is a daily challenge you can overcome. You do not have to hide your hearing loss. You do not have to face hearing loss alone.
A SUCCESSFUL BEGINNING
By Richard Herring
During the summer of 2007, Robert Ogg, Shirley Nauman, and Richard Herring first met at Shirley's residence to explore the formation of a Sun City Center chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America where many senior citizens with hearing loss lived either as "snow-birds" or full time residents. All three were long time members of a national organization known as Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). To be a member of HLAA was necessary in order for one to meet it's requirements to form a chapter; thus, the Sun City Center (HLA-SCC) chapter was on the verge of being started.
HLA-SCC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which adopts HLAA's mission of opening the world of communication to people with hearing loss by providing information, education, advocacy, and support. HLAA is an umbrella organization and has non-profit status. More information about HLAA is available to anyone visiting it on www.hearingloss.org.
Because of one individual skilled in Computer Assisted Realtime Translation (CART), Tess Crowder of Communication Access, Inc., typed on her laptop computer all the words being spoken during a public meeting so that one could view from a larger screen what was being said. CART was provided pro-bono at HLA-SCC monthly meetings so that all would have communication accessibility. Another individual, David Houck, member of the Men's Club in Sun City Center was instrumental in securing funding for HLA-SCC to use for incidentals from his club.
An HLA-SCC steering committee was formed to meet monthly to become a chapter resource and offer valuable advice such as names of possible speakers, discussion meetings, communication accessibility, contacts, and assistance as needed. Members of the committee are Robert Ogg, President; Richard Herring, Vice President; Shirley Nauman, Vice President of Publicity; David Houck, Treasurer; Gen and Jim Forceia, Bill Cozby, Ken Gleason, Barbara Riley, Marilyn Balkany, and Will Jansen. Without the inspiration from all of the members, the HLA-SCC would never have materialized in keeping with the mission of the national HLAA which was headquartered in Maryland.
The first public program meeting of HLA-SCC took place on October 3, 2007 at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church's Fellowship Hall. The church agreed to allow pro-bono use of its facilities. Incidentally, five members of the HLA-SCC chapter steering committee were members of St. Andrew. The first speakers on October 3rd consisted of member friends of the HLA-Sarasota chapter. The meeting was a huge success with 70 + individuals from the public in attendance.
This all happened when someone asked the question, "Why can't we have an HLAA chapter in Sun City Center?"