The Walk4Hearing, produced by the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), is the largest walk of its kind in the country that raises awareness and helps to eradicate the stigma associated with hearing loss. The HLAA Walk4Hearing is held in multiple cities across the country. Since 2006, over 18,000 walkers have stepped up and helped raise money for programs and services for people with hearing loss and their families. Money raised is shared between the national organization and local Walk sites.
Date:
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Location:
Sugar House Park
1300 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT
Directions
Schedule:
9am – Registration/Check-in
10am – Walk begins
Distance: 5K (3.1 miles)
INFO HERE: http://hlaa.convio.net/site/TR?fr_id=1903&pg=entry
Examples of how funds are used include:
National Programs
- Advocating for the rights of people with hearing loss
- Information, referral, education and coping resources through www.hearingloss.org, the Hearing Loss Magazine, the annual HLAA Convention, and the HLAA electronic newsletter
- A nationwide network of 200 chapters providing personal support
- 14 state organizations advocating for expanded state services
- Support for parents of children with hearing loss at www.kidsandhearingloss.org
- Outreach to veterans returning with hearing loss
- Social networking site for young adults with hearing loss at www.hearinglossnation.org
Local Programs
- Captioning and hearing assistive technology at chapter meetings to make them accessible
- Scholarships for students with hearing loss towards college tuition
- Funding for hearing aids and devices for people who cannot afford them
- Installation of hearing assistive technology in public places
- Captioning of live theater productions
- Seminars on coping with hearing loss for families
Why We Walk?
We walk because hearing loss is a public health issue in the United States.
- 36 million people have some form of hearing loss
- 22 million have noise-induced hear loss that could be prevented
- More than 59,000 military members have disability status for hearing loss from current wars.
- 30 school-aged children per 1,000 have a hearing loss
Most of us give little thought to our ears until we have a problem hearing. The sounds go into our ears and up to the brain and we hear. Unlike our eyes, our ears never close. Hearing is effortless. Many people don’t know where to find the information and support they need to overcome the communication obstacles that hearing loss creates.
People with a passion for hearing loss issues get involved for many reasons either they have a hearing loss themselves or they want to show support for family members or someone they know with hearing loss. Parents of children with hearing loss walk as families and meet other parents along the way and share experiences. Company teams walk to build workplace camaraderie. Alliance groups such as schools for children who have hearing loss, hospitals, universities, and other non-profit hearing loss-related organizations, join the Walk4Hearing to raise money for their own projects.
