CHHA-NL Youth Blog

Hi everyone,

First I want to congratulate one of our members for achieving the Young Adult Award of Excellence on May 23, 2009. Sharon Tarrant is an amazing person and advocate for hard of hearing young people. She definately deserves this award. Once again Congrats Sharon!

Speaking of the 2009 Conference here in NL. It was an amazing time. It was a great opportunity to interact with old friends and find new friendships. The tradeshow was a great place to learn about all the technology available to us, and the workshops allowed us to share our experiences and learn from each other. It was bittersweet for me as my time with the Young Adult Network draws to a close. Unfortunately it looks like that was my last conference for sometime as I take some me time and explore myself and further my education in a year. I have made many lifelong friends all over Canada and I have experience some amazing times with the Young Adult Network from 2006 to 2009. I remember my first conference in PEI, I didn’t even know what YAN was or what to expect. It was a crazy time and I still remember talking for the first time and being sooo nervose, and four years later I just finished my second presentation. Who would have thought? Speaking of YAN, they are recruiting a president to lead the network, if you are interested please contact Phil Rogers.

On a happy note, the CHHA-NL Young Adult Group is having a social on June 20th. If you are interested in comming please let Erika know @ ebreen.chha@gmail.com

So cheers to old friends, new friends, self discovery and EMPOWERMENT!!!

Till Next Time,

Cool Breeze

Hey everyone. My absent from this blog and the CHHA-NL youth group has been long but I never lost interest in this blog or the group. I moved away from where I once had internet access and left university to persue other careers. Since then I have been working various jobs and keeping myself busy. So busy that I could not take the time or energy to stay involved with CHHA-NL. Now that I am back on track with a new job and internet access at home, I can communicate better with the group.

Well, the upcoming CHHA National conference is hitting close to home and I have missed the good times (and bad) of meeting new people, having fun with them, and learning to have better confidence in myself. Hopefully I will be able to attend this year as I have missed out the last conference (Vancouver 2008) due to lack of funding (wouldn’t be the first time).

I enjoy working for CHHA-NL and its youth group and my absent has gotten to the worse of me.

Hopefully as I continue to have access to internet and communicate with the outside world, I can continue to work hard with the group and get myself to where I was before I left. Where I enjoyed being me.

Hi everyone,

I have recently applied for and received a customer service job. I applied for the job this fall thinking that I had a relatively good chance and with my business background, I would be able to handle the job interview with ease. I was wrong.

My first interview went pretty good. When asked if I had any questions, I simply asked if the telephone had volume control. The two individuals that interviewed me, never inquired more into the subject. I though things we great. Then came my second interview. It started out pretty good, but when I once again reiterated the phone situation to the new interviewer, things took a turn for the worst. The individual started questioning my ability to cope with a hearing loss in every day life. When asked if there was ever a time that I wouldn’/couldn’t do a job, I said yes… a bartender. Being a bartender was just to stressful and unnecessairy I was more happy outside in coat check/cover. The interviewer started questioning my ability to hear in the environment. Essentially if I was confined to a wheelchair, the individual would have asked me to see if the counter was to high and then decide if I wanted the job. Leaving the interview, I was outraged cause I knew that legally and professionally they are only allowed to ask me if I required any accomodations. I was pretty sure, given the way that the interview went (and considering that I had to defend my hearing loss), I was not going to get the job, but to my surprise I did.

Now I am finishing up my training, and although I need to run inside to answer the phone, my hearing loss has not affected my ability to work. In fact, because I have stronger coping and listening skills then my coworkers, I am better equiped to work in that environment. There are still challenges ahead in my work place, but I will not give up. I know that when the going gets tough I can contact CHHA-NL and they are able to provide technologies and sensitivity training, so that my employer can better understand my strengths and weakness and thus be more sensitive to the needs of other hard of hearing individuals in the future. It was not an entirely bad situation, good things can come out of it. Throughout this experience I had a choice, I could either, give into the individual, withdraw and feel bad about my self (taking a “i can’t” mentaility) OR I can be an advocate, prove that I am capable of doing just as good (if not better) than my hearing coworkers and change the attitudes). In conclusion I learned that  a true advocate has a positive attitude that allows them to create a change in their environment.

Till next time

Cool Breeze

The trip that i went on to Ottawa was probably the best trip i ever went on in my life. At first i didn`t know anyone but that all changed really fast. People would just come up and introduce themselves and shake my hand and i quickly gained many friends. The first day i got there it was basically a day for resting, but everyone was too excited to rest, instead we got to know everyone a little better.

For the opening ceremonies each province had to get up and talk about what they liked most about their province and tell a little about where you are from. I was shaking because i was so nervous but that soon passed. The next day it was sledge hockey which was extremely fun  and kind of hard. It was really good exercise and a lot of fun at the same time. Another day we went to Parliament Hill for a tour which was really cool to learn about the history of Canadian politics. We went rock climbing which was my favorite thing. It was probably the hardest workout i ever did but i loved it.

On Canada Day we went to the national art gallery. The tour was pretty cool but i like it at the end when we got to make our own sculpture out of clay. That night we went to a park where there was amusement rides and a lot of people. I got on one ride and i got sick,so i don`t think i will get on that ride again. Our last day there we went to lake where we went tubing, that was soo fun, and we could kick around a soccer ball or a football so there was lots of stuff to do. The trip was a lot of fun but the best part about it would have to be all the different people that i met. It was so fun spending the trip with those people and i would love to do it again some time.

Hi everyone!

 This summer has been crazy and amazing at the same time. Last week I returned from an amazing event. It was Congress 2008. The joining of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association and the International Federation of the Hard of Hearing. What an amazing time. So much happened during that conference, but I will focus on the Young Adult Program. Here are some headlines

The CHHA-NL Youth and Young Adult Group truly empowered the Young Adults with their first ever Power Me Up! Presentation. What  a sucess! Speakers Erika Breen and Olivia Heaney were amazing!

The Young Adults enjoyed 3 amazing social events during Congress 2008. Bowling & pizza, a movie night, and a beach party lived up to their expectations and many friendships were formed.

The inspirational Innuksuk speach by Erika Breen and Ainsley Latour truly inspired the whole Congress and kicked off an inspirational project that lasted for the whole Congress.

The Parade of Nations provided Young Adults with the oppotunity to be involved in the Opening Ceremonies.

Greg Carrier won the Young Adult Award of Excellence 2008. Great Job Greg!!!

Erika Breen from Newfoundland won the CHHA National Scholarship!

These are just a few of the MANY highlights of Congress 2008 in Vancouver. To add to these highlights is the fact that the CHHA AGM will be in Newfoundland next year! So get involved and stay tuned for more details on the next Conference.

 Until Next Time

Cool Breeze

Hi All!

First, I must apologize, I submitted 2 comments to Muddled Myrtle post because I wasn’t sure it worked the first time. Oh my, bear with me while I get this figured out!

So, you must all be hearing about how the workforce is changing into skilled trades. That’s all we have been hearing lately at career fairs, news, trades schools offering programs. In the past, skilled trades hasn’t appealed to many people with disabilities, but more and more people are thinking about it. As a career counsellor, I would encourage those thinking about going into skilled trades to do some job shadowing before making any decisions. From my contacts with employers within skilled trades, safety is a priority for them and they want assurance that everyone is safe and productive. When thinking about skilled trades, one must think of all possible scenarios and problem solve to assure the employer that you have a safety plan. There may be some accommodations that can easily be put in place. For more info on accommodations or job shadowing, feel free to contact me.

Thanks for letting me share my thoughts!

QueenBee

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Hey Everyone!

I couldn’t think of what to write today and then I thought of my 3 year old. I love being a mother but there are times that are challengening when it comes to understanding what she’s asking me. Talking to children have always been a fear of mine - how am I going to lipread? They cannot pronounce their words fully yet! I must say my CI has helped me understand children better, but there are difficult times. In my attempts to understand my little girl, I ask her to look at mommy, I ask her to repeat. If I still don’t understand, I will try saying some words that she may be saying and ask her is that right? When she says no, I keep trying. After awhile, if we are still not connecting, I’ll say, go ask daddy!

One thing I have learned since having a child is that I am not the only one trying to understand kids - other adults who do not have a hearing loss have difficulty as well, so it’s not just us.

Cheers!

QueenBee

While most of us are looking forward to summer (or for the rain to stop haha). I find myself not able to think about summer. Instead I find myself studying via distance education at MUN, waiting for my summer job to start, and getting ready for Congress 2008. I am definitely looking forward to meeting other HOH Young Adults from all around the Globe. It will definitely be a conference of a lifetime. Filled with lots of laughter, memories and common experience. This is a time where YAN’s get to come together to share experiences, information and develop lifelong friendships. At congress 2008, you do not need to worry about getting a seat up front or how to tell others about your hearing loss. For once you can let your hair down, relax and experience life as if you had no disability at all.

With this being said. Congress 2008 is fast approaching. So if you want to attend, please go to www.chha.ca for more information on Congress 2008.

Until next time,

Cool Breeze

Hey everyone,

 I can tell you I’ve had a pretty preductive past few weeks!!!! for one I moved out of my old house. I’ve been pretty busy with trying to get settled into the new place. Also to be honest, I was a bit scared I’d run out of topics to Blog about, but as it turns out, i guess i was wrong. As everyone would know getting up on time for school or work can be a bit a of a chalange, especially for an HOH individual. I, for one, know that a regular alarm clock won’t work for me. For as long as i can remember my own personal alarm clock has been (no surprise here) — my mom , she bends over backwards for me a lot, I really love her for it. A few weeks ago she went on a trip, which here (for me) means “how am I going to get myself up in the morning?”. And I recalled, upon joining the youth group an CHHA-NL, being told of an alarm clock that was placed under your pillow and woke you up by buzzing and vibrating at the same time. I really didn’t know what to think of this special alarm clock. I decided to to look into trying one out when my mom had to go on her trip. let me just tell you it works wonders!!!!!! because in the past I became really flusterd about regular alarm clocks not working for me. I’m looking into actually buying a Sonic Boom Alarm in the near future for post secondary school.  

Later days!!!     

MusicGirl                                                          

Hi, I just wanted to respond to Livvy’s post about what she learned at the Lunch and Learn. I know where you are coming from… before I started working with people with disabilities 6 years ago, I really thought that pretty much everyone with different disabilities were accommodated especially in school and with transportation. I learned rather quickly that this was not the case. I have listened to people tell me about their horror stories and embarrassisng situations. Like Livvy said, I thought there were “laws” in place. I knew that other kids in school are “cruel” to kids who are different because of my own experience. One of the speakers at the Lunch and Learn suggested a manatory course in disabilities for students to create awareness and inclusion. I think this is an excellent idea. I wonder if there was some way to advocate for this…. 

Over the past few years, I have seen some changes in our society but it has been slow. More places of businesses are thinking about accessibility, but not enough. How can they be when our government is still not “thinking” about all levels of accessibility, for example, the new LMI Works website is not accessible for adaptive technology (JAWS etc). I have advocated for this upon discovering such a website, they are working on it, but it is becoming difficult to do because the website is already created. Why didn’t they consult with the experts (ie, the community) on accessibility first?

I believe together we can make a difference, it would be great for all disability organizations to come together and develop an advocacy plan.  

Anyway, that’s my thoughts…

QueenBee