Looking ahead to April ---

Tonya Barlow will be speaking on balance issues associated with hearing loss at Derbytown Self Help for Hard of Hearing’s April 12 speaker’s meeting.

Tonya Barlow, M.S.,CCC-A is director of audiology at Avada Audiology & Balance Centers in the Louisville area. She received her training from the University of Louisville school of Medicine and has been in private practice for over 15 years. She specializes in vestibular disorders and the treatment of tinnitus and hearing loss.

Starting with April, the 2nd Tuesday monthly speaker’s meeting will be held at St Leonard’s Elementary School, 440 Zorn Avenue at 6:30 p.m. For information, please contact Paula Esterle, SHHH State Coordinator, at 502-339-8037 or Ed Schickel, Derbytown SHHH President, at 502-349-6792.

New meeting location on Zorn Ave !!! See map. Starting with the April regular speaker's meeting, we will meet at St. Leonard's School library at 440 Zorn Ave. The time remains the same - 6:30 PM. There is a big parking lot in front of the school.

At our last Board Meeting we came up with a date for our Spring dinner, May 12, 2005 @ 6:30 P.M. @ Mr. Gatti's, 1108 Lyndon Ln. off Westport Rd., near Herr Ln.

We will meet inside and someone will be there to direct you to our party room. The dinner will consist of Pizza, Pasta, Salad Bar, Soft Drinks, as much as you want. If Sr. Citizen age, the cost will be $4.95 + Tax. If not Sr. Citizen the cost will be $5.95 + tax, drink included. I will get ½ sheet cake from a friend, very good.

Please let me know NOW if you plan to attend and how many from your household. Mr. Gatti's MUST know right away so they can assign us a room large enough for our group.

If we have as many as 50 we will get a 15% rebate which will be helpful with funds for our booth at Fair. Your money will be given at Cashier's desk.
-- Hazel

From the Desk of Brenda Battat, Director of Public Policy and States Development

We need you to join or renew your membership

* Better access to affordable hearing aids, cochlear implants and other technology for all who can benefit

* Telephones designed to work with hearing aids and cochlear implants

* Assistive technology and programs complying with disability rights laws and providing accessibility in public and private facilities, workplaces, and state and local governments

* More captioned movies in neighborhood theaters

* Improve quality of captioned TV and meeting FCC captioning regulations timetable

* Strengthen federal requirements for accessible air travel including appropriate screening procedures

* Roll-out nationwide a captioned telephone service

* Improve access to and the effectiveness of hearing health services

* Increase grant funding for the training of more captioners

* Enhance funding for infant hearing screening programs and follow-up care

* Strengthen standards for visual and audible fire alarms

* GRASSROOTS ACTIVITIES THAT NEED YOUR SUPPORT

1. Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. is THE voice for all people with hearing loss. (A large constituency gives them credibility and contacts.)
2. Information is brought to members through Hearing Loss: The Journal of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People.
3. The National Convention provides education and access to vendors and exhibitors.
4. Support through local chapters and online information.
5. Discounts on books, resource materials, convention fees and special promotions
6. Advocacy efforts
7. Surveys, courses and special events.
8. Fellowship and support.
9. Personal Networking. What SHHH is doing for you.

As a Chapter of Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, we are dedicated to education, advocacy, and support for people who do not hear well, and those around them. This is how we help ourselves. Derbytown’s primary outreach, outside of our monthly speaker meetings, is currently limited to our State Fair Hearing Assistive Technology Booth which we shared with the Kentucky Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, KCDHH, in past years. KCDHH has informed us that they will partner with the Department of Education in a booth this year.

The Derbytown Board met on February 24, 2005, and voted to continue the booth this year. Although we will be seeking co-sponsors, the Board feels that this is an important project which can impact many people throughout Kentuckiana and in which we must play the lead role. Our HAT HOUSE Booth demonstrated Hearing Assistive Technology (HAT), explained and demonstrated the Kentucky Relay Program, introduced CAPTEL phones, discussed hearing aids and hearing issues and distributed information on the TTY/Phone free distribution program. This was a major service to hard of hearing people, their family, friends and employers. Our Board feels that this outreach must continue.

Will you help us? We will need many volunteers to cover the 400 hours of the State Fair. We will be needing equipment and furniture for the displays. Most of all, we will need more than $4000 to cover the booth rental, electricity, and handouts. While the Fair is almost six months away, we need to reserve our space and equipment now. Will you donate ten, fifteen, twenty or what ever you can to this project? Please send your tax deductible donation to Derbytown SHHH, P.O. Box 8150, Louisville, KY 40257-8150 as soon as possible.

I do appreciate your cooperation and support of Hard of Hearing people, their families and friends.

Ed Schickel, President, Derbytown SHHH