Creating Consumer Awareness Through Policy Change

1
Creating Consumer Awareness Through Policy Change

• Presenters
• Sherri Collins, Executive Director
• Sherry Appleby, Board Chair
• Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of
  Hearing
• July 4, 2008

2
How did T-coil bill all start

• Position Paper by a hard of hearing board
  member/legislature
• Senate Bill 1348 (see handout)

3
What were the challenges..

• Lobbyists for hearing aid dispensers and
  audiologists

4
What a brilliant idea..

• Later added a language to require all hearing aid
  dispensers and audiologists to inform customers
  about our telecommunication equipment
  distribution program (see handouts)

5
Impact after passage of law

• Created T-coil educational brochure
• Added a link on our website for professionals
• Build collaboration with hearing aid dispensers
• Will create a loop directory on our website
• Arizona Assistive Technology Access Program
  (AzTAP) created a looping listserv

6
What are the challenges

• Convince businesses to loop
• Lack of education and awareness for audiologists
  and hearing aid dispensers to fully understanding
  hard of hearing issues (beyond the ear)
• The t-coil bill is just a step to the next level
  to raise awareness

7
What do we need to do internationally ????

• Increase training and awareness for professionals
  (hearing aid dispensers and audiologists)
• Standardization of quality of looping (????)