Join VAD as we talk with Cindy Gordon, Program and Executive Director for CHHA- Edmonton Branch. We learn about the programs and resources that are offered to the community and how to access them.
Join VAD as we talk with Cindy Gordon, Program and Executive Director for CHHA- Edmonton Branch. We learn about the programs and resources that are offered to the community and how to access them.
00:00:00 Teresa
So welcome to the voice of Albertans with Disabilities, AKA Vad Society Podcast for September 2022. I'm Teresa Jackson, your host and VAD's program and service manager. Thanks for joining us today.
00:00:15 Teresa
VAD has started meeting with our Members to learn about local resources that are available to our iVAD Members and within the disability community.
00:00:24 Teresa
In today's podcast, I'll be talking to Cindy Gordon from Canadian hard of Hearing Association Edmonton.
00:00:30 Teresa
Branch, the vision of CHHA is to be a progressive, dynamic organization, working towards full inclusion of persons who are hard of hearing.
00:00:40 Teresa
Cindy's role at the Canadian hard of Hearing Association Edmonton branch is the program director and executive director and I wanted to get Cindy on the show to share her knowledge with you.
00:00:51 Teresa
Together, we hold the power.
00:00:53 Teresa
Please welcome Cindy Gordon.
00:00:55 Cindy
Hello. Hi, how are you?
00:00:58 Teresa
Please take a moment and briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your role with Canadian hard of hearing association Edmonton branch.
00:01:05 Cindy
Alright, well, as you say, my name is Cindy Gordon.
00:01:08 Cindy
I'm the program director and the executive director for the CHHA Edmonton branch.
00:01:14 Cindy
My role is to coordinate all of the programs and services offered by CHHA as well
00:01:20 Cindy
I run most of them.
00:01:22 Cindy
I have worked in the field of disabilities for more than 40 years.
00:01:26 Cindy
And now the last 30 have been primarily focused with the hearing loss association.
00:01:32 Cindy
I have a bilateral sensorineural hearing loss most of my life.
00:01:36 Cindy
I wear kuechler implant as well as a hearing aid in the other ear, so I walked the walk.
00:01:42 Cindy
So to say.
00:01:42 Cindy
When we work with this organization, I know what people are talking about, so that's who I am.
00:01:49 Teresa
That was great.
00:01:50 Teresa
Thank you.
00:01:51 Teresa
I have a few questions about Canadian hard of hearing Association Edmonton branch to gather some information for our listeners.
00:01:58 Teresa
So to start, can you give us a definition of what hard of hearing is?
00:02:03 Cindy
OK, so.
00:02:05 Cindy
There is a difference between and.
00:02:07 Cindy
Thank you for asking this question, because there is actually a difference between being hard of hearing and being deaf.
00:02:13 Cindy
So primarily where we draw the line is those with hearing loss any degree if we lose, if we use our voice.
00:02:26 Cindy
To communicate, then we are considered hard of hearing.
00:02:30 Cindy
No, that doesn't mean that some of us don't use ASL.
00:02:34 Cindy
We don't.
00:02:35 Cindy
We may use captioning.
00:02:38 Cindy
Hearing aids any other mode of communication to be able to get out our message or to hear it.
00:02:44 Cindy
But if we can use our voice and use our voice primarily to communicate, then we are considered to be hard of hearing.
00:02:54 Cindy
Those who are deaf typically use ASL as their first.
00:02:58 Cindy
Mode of communication.
00:03:00 Cindy
And that isn't the case.
00:03:02 Cindy
You know, voice and speech is our first mode of communication.
00:03:06 Teresa
Thank you for that clarification.
00:03:08 Teresa
Your mission is states we increase awareness and remove barriers for persons who are hard of hearing in the greater Edmonton area by providing support programs and advocacy.
00:03:19 Teresa
Can you tell our listeners how your organization does that?
00:03:24 Cindy
Yeah, well, our number one goal is to be the supportive for people who are experiencing hearing loss, having challenges, coping with it either personally or being discriminated at work, at home, at school, wherever.
00:03:38 Cindy
But we do provide programs such as your third ear.
00:03:42 Cindy
Which helps people through these challenges and the expectations of wearing hearing aids and other equipment which most people think is such a natural or easy thing to.
00:03:51 Cindy
do like glasses, and it is not it, is it?
00:03:55 Cindy
It sometimes takes years to get through that.
00:03:57 Cindy
Learning to to wear a hearing aid.
00:04:00 Cindy
We provide a 9 week speech reading class for those who have lost their hearing and want to learn how to understand speech better, as well as coping strategies for everyday living.
00:04:12 Cindy
We provide an 8 week ASL class for those who learn an alternative form of communication.
00:04:20 Cindy
We offer guest speakers on technology, support, etc.
00:04:26 Cindy
We always advocate when a person feels they have been discriminated by.
00:04:31 Cindy
Because of their hearing loss, we provide one-on-one advice and mentoring. On the other side of the coin, we also provide sensitivity training to the community to help them understand hearing loss. So we work with the hearing community as well because really if they don't understand hearing loss.
00:04:51 Cindy
It makes it more challenging, you know, if they have a coworker for example, and they just don't understand it at all.
00:04:59 Cindy
Don't know why the hearing aid isn't just the answer or helping them, you know?
00:05:04 Cindy
So we try to help the general public as well.
00:05:08 Cindy
So most Of our our.
00:05:10 Cindy
Mandate most of our our mission is covered under those programs.
00:05:15 Cindy
And we certainly are open to just about doing anything and it's open to all the public as well.
00:05:22 Teresa
So just to follow up on that, your ASL course, is that open to anyone in the public?
00:05:28 Cindy
Anyone in public, and we offer it every quarter.
00:05:31 Cindy
We offer three, three to four sessions every quarter.
00:05:37 Cindy
Four times a year it's offered to the general public, anyone can take it, and right now we're offering three of those classes online.
00:05:46 Teresa
OK, good to know. One of the goals with CHHA Edmonton is through education, barriers of communicating with people around us can be removed. What common kind of barriers are there when communicating with someone who is hard of hearing?
00:06:01 Teresa
And do you have tips for our listeners to avoid these communication barriers?
00:06:05 Cindy
I do.
00:06:07 Cindy
So because hearing loss is actually the invisible disability, it's one of those invisible ones.
00:06:13 Cindy
People don't really know we have hearing loss.
00:06:17 Cindy
And they don't exactly know how to communicate effectively.
00:06:20 Cindy
When they even.
00:06:20 Cindy
Find out someone has hearing loss, so communication is often different.
00:06:26 Cindy
Than those people who are deaf but.
00:06:30 Cindy
We have some tips, of course. To be effective. The number one rule is you always have to face us #1 pretty much if we don't see you.
00:06:41 Cindy
We don't hear you.
00:06:43 Cindy
So anyone who thinks they can start and it looks like somebody is hearing you and you're communicating, then you start walking away and you're still talking or doing something.
00:06:52 Cindy
We're likely missing half of what's being said, so number one is face us. Saying our name or touching us usually helps because it kind of clicks us in to pay attention, signals our brain that someone is speaking to us. So if you know the person's name, it's always great to start a sentence.
00:07:11 Cindy
Would that slow the speech down somewhat for easier speech reading those who are trained?
00:07:17 Cindy
Or typically when you do lose your hearing, you do pick up some speech reading quite naturally.
00:07:23 Cindy
That's why we need to see you.
00:07:26 Cindy
But like I said, we do teach that program.
00:07:29 Cindy
There's some real skills involved, so if you slow the speech down somewhat, it becomes easier to speech read.
00:07:36 Cindy
We you may have.
00:07:37 Cindy
To speak louder, we ask that you don't shout.
00:07:40 Cindy
Not only is it embarrassing, but it distorts the sound and makes it harder to hear.
00:07:47 Cindy
Actually people, when they shout, it also changes the the mouth, so it makes it more challenging to figure the word out too 'cause it changes.
00:07:55 Cindy
The look the nearer you are.
00:07:57 Cindy
The clearer.
00:07:58 Cindy
So the closer you come, within six feet, it's easier to hear you if all out spells, pen and paper do work, if you really can't get the message, and particularly people with hearing us tend to not understand numbers well because they can sound the same 13.
00:08:19 Cindy
Then 30 sound the same, look the same.
00:08:22 Cindy
So sometimes just writing those things out a phone number or something you need to give to someone is is really helpful too.
00:08:30 Cindy
And there are some great apps now.
00:08:34 Cindy
Technology is finally catching up and helping us.
00:08:38 Cindy
But there are some great apps just like this we're using on our zoom call right now.
00:08:44 Cindy
We see the captioning at the bottom.
00:08:46 Cindy
It's artificial intelligence, but some of our apps do translate.
00:08:51 Cindy
A spoken word, and it can be fairly accurate.
00:08:56 Cindy
So if all else fails, ask them if they have the app or use one yourself.
00:09:00 Cindy
They're really easy to download and they're easy to have on your phone, and they're always handy then.
00:09:07 Teresa
That's great.
00:09:07 Teresa
I like the technology is starting to become more helpful.
00:09:10 Teresa
Is the CHHA large organization with lots of branches?
00:09:16 Cindy
So the Canadian heart of Hearing Association is a national organization based in Ottawa.
00:09:22 Cindy
That's where our parent company is and we have variety of different organisations across Canada.
00:09:28 Cindy
I believe we only have though, I think about 10.
00:09:33 Cindy
Branches or chapters of the organization.
00:09:37 Cindy
And not all of our branches have offices like we do here in Edmonton, where we have a full office and staff that you can come into and offer programs.
00:09:49 Cindy
Some are voluntarily run out of people homes still out of just meeting once a month or but in Alberta we are the only branch.
00:09:58 Cindy
It does have an office.
00:10:00 Cindy
Sadly, so we do service up to red deer and north.
00:10:04 Cindy
There is a Calgary branch as.
00:10:06 Cindy
Well, but they.
00:10:07 Cindy
Do not have an office, but they do have an A board that you can contact and whatnot.
00:10:11 Cindy
But yes, there's branches all over Canada.
00:10:13 Teresa
What is an interesting fact about Canadian hard of hearing association Edmonton branch that everyone should know.
00:10:21 Cindy
Well, I think.
00:10:24 Cindy
Everyone should know that CHHA Edmonton or CHHA is the number one disability.
00:10:32 Cindy
Hearing loss is the number one disability in Canada, and I don't think a lot of people recognize those numbers.
00:10:40 Cindy
We have more than 3,000,000 Canadians with hearing loss and in Edmonton alone we have over 100,000 people who are hard of hearing.
00:10:51 Cindy
And I think.
00:10:52 Cindy
People don't recognize that that number is so large.
00:10:55 Cindy
And another thing people should know is that our service is really open to everybody, is open to all those who have hearing loss as well as their communication partners.
00:11:09 Cindy
Whoever in their life is having just as much trouble dealing or living with someone with a hearing loss 'cause it really isn't easy when you can't communicate easily.
00:11:20 Cindy
So we're open to everybody, to the public.
00:11:23 Cindy
You don't actually have to become a member too.
00:11:26 Cindy
To take any of our courses.
00:11:29 Cindy
Or to come to.
00:11:30 Cindy
Any of our workshops, but something people really don't.
00:11:32 Cindy
Know, you know.
00:11:33 Cindy
You think you have to be a closed member or you have to join.
00:11:35 Cindy
You do not.
00:11:36 Cindy
We're open to the public here and there's no cost.
00:11:40 Cindy
There's a cost to some of the programs we do offer, but there's no cost to just come to a workshop or just to see what we're about or to ask for advice.
00:11:51 Cindy
I think a really another.
00:11:52 Cindy
Interesting fact about us is that we are not funded by any government source.
00:11:59 Cindy
So we really only exist here by our fundraising and donations.
00:12:06 Cindy
And some of the project grants that.
00:12:08 Cindy
We do receive, but we we.
00:12:09 Cindy
Don't get an annual or, you know we're not funded by any.
00:12:13 Cindy
Kind of government body that.
00:12:15 Cindy
Keeps us here.
00:12:16 Cindy
This is all driven by people who want it to exist.
00:12:21 Teresa
Wow, that's fascinating.
00:12:22 Teresa
I'm kind of floored by that, actually.
00:12:25 Cindy
We- probably.
00:12:27 Cindy
Are one of the only few little organisations that.
00:12:29 Cindy
Do run like that, but.
00:12:31 Cindy
We we don't have any regular funding body.
00:12:34 Teresa
you mentioned membership.
00:12:35 Teresa
Is there a membership fee and what type of membership can people look at joining?
00:12:40 Cindy
So there is a membership fee. It's very cheap. It's $15 a year.
00:12:47 Cindy
And that gets you all the information newsletters.
00:12:52 Cindy
Now we recommend people pay $45.00 a year and become part of the national - national dues are $30 a year and you get weekly.
00:13:02 Cindy
Information sent out to you about new technology, what's happening across Canada, what's happening in advocacy?
00:13:08 Cindy
Just a whole support system that way on a weekly basis.
00:13:14 Cindy
And just being able to know what's going on.
00:13:17 Cindy
We have national conferences, so it's really worth the money plus that.
00:13:22 Cindy
$45.00 really helps again support our organization and lends your support to us.
00:13:31 Cindy
The more people that are fighting for needs and change out there, the.
00:13:36 Cindy
The the easier the job becomes.
00:13:39 Teresa
Can you tell our listeners how to get ahold of you if they want more information?
00:13:44 Cindy
Absolutely. There's several ways. Actually you can reach us at our phone number, which is 780-428-6622.
00:13:58 Cindy
Or our e-mail. info@chha-ed.com
00:14:03 Cindy
or our website which is almost the same.
00:14:13 Cindy
www.chha-ed.com
00:14:22 Teresa
Is there anything else you want our listeners to know about your organization?
00:14:26 Cindy
You know, I just would like.
00:14:28 Cindy
The listeners to really know.
00:14:29 Cindy
That we are here for you.
00:14:32 Cindy
As I said, I've been doing this a long time.
00:14:35 Cindy
I've been involved with many different cases.
00:14:38 Cindy
Lots of changes happened, but there is still lots of change that needs to happen.
00:14:45 Cindy
We need people to want to help us, to want to make change so it's easier for them to live 'cause we know it's not easy.
00:14:53 Cindy
Really, in society, when you can't hear well, participation becomes a challenge, isolation and depression becomes a reality, and we really don't want that to happen.
00:15:05 Cindy
But we really know when we work together and make some change that we can get over those issues.
00:15:10 Cindy
So if you're feeling like that to.
00:15:12 Cindy
You if you feel like.
00:15:13 Cindy
You know, I just don't want to participate anymore.
00:15:16 Cindy
I can't hear it anymore.
00:15:18 Cindy
Then you need to reach out and we need to find solutions because there are some and we need to let our government know that this is a real issue.
00:15:28 Cindy
And with our senior population.
00:15:30 Cindy
Increasing and every second person over the age of 60 experiencing some degree of hearing loss.
00:15:39 Cindy
They need to take this very seriously.
00:15:42 Cindy
You know, we need to make some changes.
00:15:44 Cindy
There's still a lot of changes out in society that need to.
00:15:46 Cindy
Happen for us to be able to.
00:15:48 Cindy
Participate and live fully.
00:15:50 Cindy
So we need them, we need the the Members, we need the people who want to make some change or those who need some help.
00:15:58 Cindy
We're here for you.
00:15:59 Teresa
If you could ask for anything from VAD to help you out, what would that be?
00:16:04 Cindy
I guess just the promotion that we are here, that we exist.
00:16:09 Cindy
That you know.
00:16:10 Cindy
This is where you should go.
00:16:12 Cindy
This is what.
00:16:13 Cindy
Who can help you?
00:16:15 Cindy
We just need our name to be out there for some reason.
00:16:19 Cindy
You know, we just.
00:16:21 Cindy
People don't know we exist.
00:16:22 Cindy
They find us by chance.
00:16:24 Cindy
And they're just like, how come?
00:16:25 Cindy
I didn't know.
00:16:26 Cindy
But we need.
00:16:27 Cindy
All the the agencies around to know that we're here too.
00:16:31 Cindy
So I appreciate you being able to, you know, do this and and give us a little bit of promotion to.
00:16:36 Cindy
Know that we're out there for people.
00:16:38 Teresa
And we really like being able to tell our individuals that phone what resources are available.
00:16:44 Teresa
So this is great opportunity.
00:16:46 Teresa
For us as well.
00:16:48 Teresa
So thank you for your time and energy today.
00:16:50 Teresa
Cindy, you're supportive of the community is a value to all.
00:16:54 Teresa
A Canadian hard of hearing association Edmonton branch is an organizational member of VAD and their link to their website can be accessed on our membership list online vadsociety.ca/resources/
00:17:10 Teresa
Thank you again for joining VAD's podcast.
00:17:13 Teresa
Voice of Albertans with disabilities is across disability nonprofit organization, of and for people with disabilities.
00:17:21 Teresa
We are guided by the principles of accessibility, equity and inclusion, learning about VAD services on our website at vadsociety.ca.
00:17:31 Teresa
Or call 780-488-9088 For more information.
00:17:37 Teresa
If you have a topic you would like to hear more about in a podcast, please e-mail Teresa at vad@vadsociety.ca with your topic ideas, speaker suggestions, or general feedback. Signing off for the day. Together, we hold the power.