Hello Hearing Loss Association of America – Kansas City Readers, July 2015 e-News
The HLAA convention at end of June in St. Louis was very inspiring. If you have not considered becoming a member, now is a good time to join so you get all the up-to-date information on next year’s International HLAA 2016 Convention in Washington DC. HLAA is honored to host the Congress of the International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (IFHOH). There will be 40 countries at the convention next year! SAVE THE DATE: HLAA 2016 Convention — June 23-26, 2016.
HLAA membership gives you discounted registration for the HLAA Convention. Sign up for the FREE online HLAA e-News at hearingloss.org and find out how HLAA fights for your rights in addition to all the breaking news important to you. When you join HLAA, you automatically become a member of HLAA-KC. Get involved in your Kansas City Chapter as the number of memberships shows accountability of how many are supporting advocacy to make Kansas City more deaf & hard-of-hearing accessible or gives national HLAA has a membership count when they advocate for things like insurance coverage for hearing aids! Search for “Hearing Loss Association of America – Kansas City Unified Membership” in this e-News to learn how to join today or give membership as a gift to someone you love.
Hearing Loss Association of America announces new Consumer Technology Initiative or CTI. Coming this fall HLAA will launch an online community that will serve as a centralized resource to meet the immediate and growing needs of people with hearing loss – to learn how current and emerging hearing enhancement technologies and strategies can offer significant, life-changing benefits at home, at work and at play. The booth was very impressive and we look forward to its release.
Senator Tom Harkins was an awesome speaker.. He stated when things are developed for disabilities, everyone benefits from it too. His inspiration came from his deaf brother. He also has had a lengthy onset of hearing loss himself. Senator Harkins enjoys going to the movies again with Regal Sony’s Entertainment captioning glasses. Although he is retired, he is hard at work for us. He is seeking airlines to provide American movies to be captioned on flights, to have legislation to give tax credit for hearing aids and Medicare to cover hearing aids, to just name a few.
Randy Smith of Regal was dumbfounded some 13 years ago when three busloads showed up for first captioned children’s themed movie. After the movie was over, the crowd left holding up the “I love you” sign in ASL. His heart was touched as everyone displayed the “I love you” sign. He then realized it wasn’t the movie they loved so much as it was having equal access to information like everyone else.
HLAA Convention 2015 Award Recipients
Stay tuned to this page for photos, news about Convention 2016 and more.
The HLAA – Kansas City Chapter is working hard with others in this area to bring you open caption movie events. We have some other captioning ideas coming up, so please stay tuned to our e-News and Facebook.com/hlaakc. It feels really good knowing our advocacy is working as our local organizations support each other.
We also appreciate efforts to reach our mission for an OPEN Caption performance at a local KC live theater. HLAA-KC still have not met our goal to have a OC live theater performance by Sept 26th. Please consider joining Metro KC for OPEN Caption LIVE Theater. It is more effective to work in numbers.
Hearing Health Professionals reading this, please tell your clients about HLAA-KC! You are our first connection to finding people who can learn about HLAA – Kansas City Chapter. Please let your clients know we are here to listen and answer their questions. If you need some business cards for your office, please let us know by replying to this email. We have so much to share with your clients.
Hearing Loss Association of America- Kansas City Chapter NEWS
Get ready for Prime Day, July 15th More deals than Black Friday, exclusive for Prime members as Amazon celebrates the 20th Anniversary. Plan your purchases to save more July 15th and support HLAA-KC!
Follow the link above and Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Hearing Loss Association of America – Kansas City Chapter whenever you shop on AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you.
HLAA-KC now has a Paypal Donate Button:
Donations are easy and check it out at hlaakc.com.
VISIT the HLAA-KC’s Facebook Closed Group!!! Don’t miss out and be involved!
Missing out on LIVE theater because there is no captioning? Please join our new Facebook group and share and Invite your friends to our new page!
This closed group is to network:
Advocating can be writing emails (preferred method), phone calls or visiting a LIVE Theater in person or with a group. No membership required. No experience needed. No need to be a resident of KS or MO. Open to all states.
While you are at our new Facebook closed group, check out the first post pinned at the top. Open it all the way up to read how the group works. Then open up the DESCRIPTION on the right to read about our mission. Joining our new Facebook group is great, but does not let us know you want to advocate for OC. If you would like to join our mission, please sign-up to help advocate at
(see link above). After HLAA-KC committee receives your sign-up from 
we will inform you how to advocate, answer your questions and discuss where you would like to advocate! We cannot wait to get started because our goal is to have our first live theater performance open captioned by Saturday, Sept. 26th in time for Deaf Awareness Week!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
HLAA-KC July Coffee & Yogurt Social – (Cast Your Vote for Date & Time!)
Scooter’s Coffee & Yogurt Thurs, July 23rd – 7pm or Sat, July 25th – 1:30pm446 West 47th Street Kansas City, MO 64112
Just below McCormick & Schmick’s on 47th Street
Scooters centralized location for all those on either side of MO or KS state line is our choice, but we want you to choose from two dates/times for our summer social. Please take this survey once and we will close survey at end of July 15th to give us time to announce the most popular date/time.
Scooter’s Date & Time Vote
Current Analyst of Survey on 07/09/15
Captioning News
OPEN Caption Movie – Saturday, July 18th, 10am
B & B Theatres – Overland Park 16 8601 W. 135th Street Overland Park, KS 66223
Organized by Coalition for Independence
Minions IMDB rating 7.1
Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a super-villain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world.
OPEN Caption Movie – Sunday, July 12, Time 2:55, 116 seats
Alamo Drafthouse 1400 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64105
HLAA-KC’s Facebook Invite for Terminator
Terminator Genisys (2015) IMDb rated 7.3
PG-13 | 125 min | Action, Adventure, Sci-FI
John Connor sends Kyle Reese back in time to protect Sarah Connor, but when he arrives in 1984, nothing is as he expected it to be.
Hassle Free Parking Directions for Alamo
We strongly suggest you buy tickets online in advance! OC movies are selling out the last OC events! You can buy at the door, but it could be sold out. Please let the Alamo staff know how much you appreciate the theater leading the way in providing OPEN Captioning making Kansas City deaf & hard-of-hearing accessible! HLAA-KC Thanks you – Alamo!
GRAND OPENING for 1st OPEN Caption Movie – Sunday, July 19th, 4pm 100 seats
Cinemark Palace at the Plaza 526 Nichols Rd., Kansas City, MO 64112
HLAA-KC’s Facebook Invite for Cinemark Palace on the Plaza
ANT-MAN – (HD) IMDb 7.8
PG-13 | 117 min | Action, Sci-Fi
Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, con-man Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, plan and pull off a heist that will save the world.
Purchase Cinemark Palace tickets in advance (will be available for advance purchase approximately 07/13 or 07/14)
FREE DRAWINGS for Cinemark Palace Gift Certificates – for those attending this event!
Cinemark Weekly Email to Featured Films, Events, Contests and Special Offers
Please watch for open caption movie event updates at
HLAA – KC Facebook and Metro KC for Open Caption Movie Fan Club.
OPEN Caption Live Theater – HLAA-KC has Eyes on Triology Cultural Arts Centre 
12480 Blackbob Road, Olathe, KS 66062 https://www.trilogyculturalarts.org/ Triology Facebook
A group of HLAA-KC members attended the Narnia performance. Catherine Pestinger, a performer at Triology, installed OPEN Captioning at this theater for her grandfather who had hearing loss. Her OC project was her initiative for her final Girl Scout Gold Award. She is an inspiration to HLAA-KC’s Metro KC for OPEN Caption LIVE Theater group. We welcome her advocacy in our captioning goals for KC. Next OPEN Caption performance at Trilogy will be in the 2nd week of November 2015.
HLAA-KC Past Events
Jacob’s Ride – was in KC Friday, June 19 – Sunday June 21st with an event everyday!
We enjoyed our time with Jacob Landis when we met up at Theatre Lawrence for a nice live LOOPed performance of ‘South Pacific’. The next evening we did it all over again at Boulevard Drive-in’s showing of ‘Jurassic World’ with OPEN Captions. Over 400 Deaf/hof came along with families, friends (out of 747 total!!) on a beautiful summer night under the starry sky . On Sunday we met Jacob at Kauffman to again support Jacob’s Ride to raise 1 million to give the gift of hearing to those who wish for a cochlear implant, but are not able to afford one. HLAA-KC thanks Jacob’s Ride for the two $75 Royals Gift Certificates which Robbie’s family and “JJ Jones” won from our lucky drawing on Father’s Day! It was a blast all weekend and we hope to see Jacob in KC again sometime soon! For more information see
Jacob’s Ride and
facebook.com/JacobsRide. Until we meet again, we wave our hats to Jacob and wish you safe travels!
IMPORTANT NEWS
There has been incidents recently associated with miscommunications between police authorities and D/HH drivers all over the U.S. If you do not have a Visor Card for your car, please do not hesitate and select your state below to start the process.
Missouri Visor Card
Missouri Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MCDHH) is collaborating with law enforcement agency in Missouri and has received the endorsement of the Missouri Sheriff’s Association to produce Visor Communication Cards to increase better understanding and improve communication between Police Officers and the Deaf and Hard of hearing people in Missouri. MCDHH is now releasing the Visor Communication Cards for the Deaf, Oral Deaf and Hard of Hearing. This card can be kept in vehicles and shown to Police officers whenever a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Missourian is stopped on the road.
If you would like a Visor Card, please fill out the form here: http://mcdhh.mo.gov/files/VisorCardForm.pdf.
Also, please remember, YOU MUST fill out a Deaf Census form available at: http://mcdhh.mo.gov/files/DeafCensusForm.pdf. You may send both forms to us by email or regular snail mail on the address provided on the forms. Please, note that these cards are only available to residents of Missouri. The cards are also available if you do not live in MO, but pay MO property taxes.
If you would like to view an ASL video regarding the Visor Communication Card, please click on the link.
Kansas Visor Card
Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (KCDHH) offers a visor card. Please print off this information brochure/application for the Kansas Safety Communication Visor Also please note the address on the application is incorrect as KCDHH moved in May. Please send the forms to KCDHH, 555 S. Kansas Ave., Topeka, KS 66603.
You may print this form off and make copies or an individual can contact KCDHH for information.
Missouri Assistive Technology strives to increase access to assistive technology for Missourians with all types of disabilities, of all ages. Check out their resources: http://at.mo.gov/
Colorado Neurological Institute (CNI) Camp 2015 Session Date: 7/30-8/02
CNI Cochlear Kids Camp Held at the beautiful YMCA of the Rockies, nestled in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
HLAA-KC committee member retreats with her family & CI implanted children. She loves this camp!
Launched in 2001, the CNI Cochlear Kids Camp creates wonderful opportunities for families to share the success of cochlear implant children, from 3 year-olds through high school seniors. Be a part of the tradition and join families from all across the United States and other countries for 4 days and 3 nights of recreation, education and celebration.
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Week -Sunday, September 27th
First annual MCDHH Deaf Awareness Day at “The K”
Deaf Awareness Day at Kansas City Royals on September 27th! Let’s get together for the first annual MCDHH Deaf Awareness Day at “The K” sponsored by MCDHH & Able Hands Interpreting Services! First come, first serve! Get your tickets before they run out! Please click on the link for more details.
http://mcdhh.mo.gov/files/RoyalsDAD15.3.pdf
Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) NEWS
Advocate to Place Dummy Hoy into the Baseball Hall of Fame
Show Your Support for Hoy by October 1, 2015, ASAP is better!
Dummy Hoy had many achievements on the field, including being credited with the creation of hand signals still used in baseball today! His record 82 stolen bases in his rookie year while batting just .288, is a record that stood 97 years. His record of throwing out three base runners at home plate from center field in one game still stands 125 years later.
This petition is to encourage the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Historical Overview Committee to include William “Dummy” Hoy as part of the list of Pre-Integration Era nominees submitted to the Veterans Committee for induction to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
For every 1,000 signatures this petition receives between now and October 2015, a personalized letter will be addressed to each member of the BBWAA Historical Overview Committee to urge them to consider Hoy for the list of nominees.
To write your letters send to gkaschak@comcast.net.
For full details, please read the following link:
http://www.hearingloss.org/content/help-get-hoy-baseball-hall-fame
HLAA – We are Fighting for Your Rights
Once a month we bring you the news on hot issues HLAA in Action – Making Our Consumer Voice Heard.
Take the 2015 Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) Survey!
Hearing Loss Association of America – Kansas City Unified Membership
The HLAAKC Chapter is excited to have implemented the new HLAA Unified Membership Program in our continuing effort to work together with the HLAA headquarters to expand membership and build a strong, vibrant Kansas City chapter.
The new membership program will allow our chapter to retain $10 for new AND renewing members whether or not the members become members through the efforts of our chapter, online at www.hearingloss.org, or through some other method.
FAQ: If I/we become a member do I/we become member of both the national HLAA and the local HLAA – Kansas City Chapter?
ANSWER: YES, no matter which way you decide to sign up for membership you will become a member of both national HLAA and the local HLAA – Kansas City Chapter!
Check out some membership benefits when you join HLAA and our local KC chapter:
Top Ten Reasons to Join the National HLAA in two different formats:
Top 10 HLAA 2_2015.pdf
Top 10 Reasons to Join HLAA.docx
Top 10 Reasons to Join Your Local HLAA Kansas City Chapter
HLAAKCTop10ChapterReasons.pdf
To Join, Renew or give a Gift Membership, please choose one of the three ways to pay by following the directions on the Membership form. HLAA headquarters will be processing all transactions using this Membership form:
Membership Form-KC.pdf
or visit www.hearingloss.org/content/join and use your credit card online (this is a secure website) and place their “Kansas City” in the box provided.
We want to hear from YOU!
Do you have ideas for topics you would like to have covered? Suggestions for a location for informal social meet-ups? Maybe your favorite coffee house? We’re always looking for new event ideas. Interested in volunteering a little or more often? Perhaps you have talents you would like to offer to help our nonprofit? Interested in committee positions? Contact a committee member or email us at hlaakc@gmail.com.
Mention of goods or services in advertisements does not imply Hearing Loss Association of America endorsement, nor should exclusion suggest disapproval.
We wish you a fun and safe summer! We hope to see you soon at an upcoming local HLAAKC event!
Your Hearing Loss Association of American Kansas City Team
Denoya Novovesky, Terri Shirley, Gretchen Mortier, and Rob Jefferson, Minda Nelson, Sara Chinnock, Heather Rutler
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