|Association Spokespersons|
Myrtle Barrett
President
Myrtle Barrett is the current President of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association - Newfoundland and Labrador (CHHA-NL) and also serves on the National Board of Directors. Myrtle is very committed to hard of hearing youth and acts as an advisor to the CHHA-NL youth group. She is also an active volunteer with the CHHA-NL outreach program - speaking to individuals across Newfoundland and Labrador about hearing loss.
Myrtle's View
It has been very exciting being part of the growing process and watching CHHA-NL become a leader in its field. I am very committed to working towards our future goals. There are so many people out there with hearing loss - people who have yet to learn that there is life after hearing loss - people who are unaware of the resources that are available within the Community. It is my vision that CHHA-NL will reach those people and that many lives will be changed. Most of all I want to be there for those people the same way that CHHA-NL saw me through the most difficult time of my life. I am living proof that there is life after hearing loss!
On a personal note, I have had a progressive loss since birth and I am currently late deafened. I have never let my hearing loss hold me back. I always did well academically and am a practicing Social Worker. I use Speech reading and Oral Interpreting/Sign Language and any technology out there to live an accessible life at home, work and play!!! I love to Volunteer. I firmly believe that even though I have an invisible disability that it is very important for me to be visible in the community. It goes a long way in challenging any of the misconceptions people may have about hearing loss.
Leon Mills, CAE, M.Ed
Executive Director
Leon wears two hearing aids and has been hard of hearing for 23 years. He has been the Executive Director of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association-Newfoundland and Labrador (CHHA-NL) since 1996. He has also served as the past President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Chapter (1995-1996).
Leon has a wide variety of career experience in various fields as a Physical Education teacher, Multi-Grade Teacher/Principal and the Coordinator of a Job Readiness Training Program and as an Assistant Recreation Director. He also served with the Canadian Forces as a Cadet Officer from 1987 to 1994.
He graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) with Con-Joint Bachelors Degrees in Education and Physical Education in 1986 and his Masters Degree in Education in 1997, specializing in Educational Leadership. In 2004, he earned the Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation from the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and joined their Board of Directors as the Atlantic Canada Representative.
Leon has served in a leadership capacity with numerous sports, volunteer and community groups such as the Kinsmen, Lions Clubs and Masonic Lodge. He is a former chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Independent Living Resource Centre (ILRC) for persons with cross-disabilities and served two terms as the co-chair of Ability Works Employment Centre for persons with disabilities. He has also served as President of the Newfoundland and Labrador Society of Fund Raising Executives (NLSFRE).
He has also been a member of a number of local government and civic committees that deal with disability issues. Currently, he is Vice-Chair of the Buildings Accessibility Appeals Board with the Department of Works, Services, and Lands and the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Student Support Services with the Department of Education and sits on the Insurance Review Committee of the provincial government. He also serves as Vice-Chair of the Marine Atlantic Accessibility Committee for Persons with Disabilities.
Leon has spoken to numerous local, provincial and national groups about hearing loss issues, especially those related to awareness, advocacy and hearing accessibility in public places. He has had several articles published in hearing magazines and journals and association newsletters.