Professional Documents
Culture Documents
NEW MEETING LOCATION! struggles. If you are hard of hearing, there are many
ways NY Relay’s services can assist you. So do plan
MUHLENBERG LIBRARY BRANCH
on coming to our November 18th meeting — itʹs the
209 West 23rd St. opportune time to learn about telecommunication
(between 7th and 8th Ave., closer to 7th), technology and get your questions answered by an
expert. I look forward to seeing you there!
3rd floor—elevator available
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 5:30 – 7:30 PM
(Socializing at 5:30; program begins at 6:00.) Happy Thanksgiving!
CapTel Phone & Sprint Web CapTel
SPEAKER: NY Relay Representative Editor’s Corner – Elizabeth Stump
MEETING LEADER: Joe Gordon
A representative from New York Relay will be
updating us on telecommunication equipment, Welcome to the November 2008 issue of the HLAA‐
services, and technology advancements Manhattan News & Views!
for people with hearing loss.
Congratulations to the chapter and particularly to the
NOTE: Assistive listening help is provided at our Walk4Hearing Coordinator, Ellen Semel, for pulling
meetings through live CART captioning and a room off such a phenomenal Walk4Hearing on Oct. 19! I
loop for those whose hearing aids have a T‐coil. don’t think anyone, even the W4H Committee
FM headsets are also available. members, anticipated such a huge turnout — over
450 people walked. Our initial fundraising goal,
$50,000, was increased twice: first to $75,000, then to
Welcome message from Joe Gordon: $100,000 — and by the morning of the Walk, we had
Sprint Web CapTel is a wonderful way for someone raised over $115,000!
with hearing loss to read captions while speaking on
the phone; all you need is a phone and a computer In commemoration of our chapter’s inaugural Walk
with a Web browser connected to the Internet. Any in NYC, this month’s N&V features two Walk teams
phone will do — analog, digital, desk phone, that assisted in making the event a resounding
cordless, wireless, and even an amplified phone. For success. But don’t just take my word for it — read the
those of us who have difficulty hearing during a profiles and additional comments from chapter
phone conversation and need better speech members on pages 3 and 4.
discrimination or sound clarity, then Sprint Web
CapTel could facilitate an easier conversation. As you will note in the Metropolitan Calendar
section, next month we will not be holding our
Hearing loss is a daily challenge, but it is by regular chapter meeting, but instead we’ll be toasting
educating ourselves that we can overcome these each other and the chapter’s successes — particularly
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our recent Walk! — at a holiday fete. Our December CHAPTER PLANNING COMMITTEE
jubilee will be occurring on Dec. 16 at the Olive Join us on the first Tuesday of each month to help plan
Garden in Chelsea, where a delicious spread of programs & events.
Italian cuisine and plenty of good cheer will be on
hand. This is the season to be thankful, so make sure HLAA Manhattan Chapter Phone Number: (voice)
you come celebrate the holidays and the end of 2008 (212) 769‐HEAR (4327)
with your friends from the HLAA Manhattan
Ellen Semel, Planning Committee Chair
Chapter. See page 7 for details.
and NYC Walk4Hearing Coordinator
(212) 989‐0624 ellen13@rcn.com
I hope to see you at the Nov. 18th chapter meeting in
the Muhlenberg Library (new location!) as well as the Barbara Bryan
holiday party on December 16th! barbarabryan@usa.net
Barbara Dagen, Newsletter Committee
bdagen1@verizon.net
Mary Fredericks, Secretary
(212) 674‐9128 maryfreder@aol.com
Joe Gordon, NYS Chapter Coordinator
NYJGordon@aol.com
Help the Chapter Go Green! Toni Iacolucci
Would you like to receive N&V by e‐mail only giantoni@nyc.rr.com
rather than receive a mailed version to help us cut
Shera Katz, Web Site Coordinator
down on paper consumption and save money? It
sherakatz@verizon.net
costs about $8 a year to provide one member with
10 issues — that’s more than half of one’s annual Anne Pope, Immediate Past President, HLAA Board
dues. Please notify HLAANYC@aol.com if you’d of Trustees
like to make this change. The Manhattan Chapter
atpop24@aol.com
thanks you!
Susan Shapiro, Treasurer
sdshappy@aol.com
Manhattan Chapter Annual Dues Dana Simon
Reminder: You should have renewed your chapter dana2cat@gmail.com
dues in September! Mail or hand the completed
form on the back of the N&V, along with your Elizabeth Stump, Newsletter Editor
check for $15 payable to HLAA‐Manhattan, to ElizabethMStump@gmail.com
Mary Fredericks. It covers your one‐year
Diane Sussman
membership for the period September 1, 2008, to
dlsuss@optonline.net
August 31, 2009.
Advisory Members
National HLAA Dues Reminder Amy McCarthy
We hope you will also join or renew your
Lois O’Neill
membership in our national organization. Your Robin Sacharoff
separate $35 check for annual dues (see back
Professional Advisors:
page) is vitally needed to help support the
Laurie Hanin, PhD, CCC‐A Exec. Director, League for
educational and advocacy work we do at the
the Hard of Hearing
national level. Your membership also includes a
subscription to Hearing Loss Magazine. Joseph Montano, Ed.D. Director, Hearing & Speech,
Weill Cornell Medical College
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• Accept your feelings.
WHAT YOU MISSED IN OCTOBER • Create a plan (what to say, how to say it).
Mary Fredericks Rehearse it.
• Write down key words.
We were pleased to welcome Dr. David Balderston, • Carry out your plan. You’ve achieved self‐
psychotherapist (who is new to hearing loss and has mastery! Feel good about yourself. Praise
just gotten his first hearing aid), as our first guest yourself! Don’t indulge in false modesty
speaker in our new meeting location at Muhlenberg (“undoing”).
library. In his opening, he referred back to Ruth
Bernstein’s presentation earlier this year about Take an emotional break when faced with an
traveling: speak up; ask for what you need; persist, unexpected situation: “I think I disagree with you,
complain if necessary, etc. Why do hard‐of‐hearing but don’t want to have an argument.” After an angry
people have trouble doing this? You think you have or inappropriate action, you can think, “I was
to call attention to your disability; there might be foolish” but don’t think “I was a fool.” And humor
apprehension of what might happen; the other plays a role: “I’m not hard of hearing – I’m ignoring
person might be condescending or annoyed. We feel you!”
isolated, inadequate, helpless, and dismayed. “Please do not speak to me until you see the whites
of my eyes!” (i.e., I need to read your lips.)
There is a fear of how other people might treat us –
and fear is not a pleasant topic. Recent issues of
Hearing Loss Magazine ran articles entitled “Frozen by
Fear” and “Overcoming Fear.” There are ways to
cope. December’s
meeting is
Use positive psychology; be prepared. Predict in canceled!
advance what you will feel. In a difficult situation, be Party at the
honest. Possible traps: denial, frustration (where Olive Garden
there are compound feelings of anger toward the instead on
other, and your own helplessness). December 16!
Helplessness is one of the worst feelings for adults; it Metropolitan Calendar
reminds us of when we were children, with our
parents controlling. We feel inadequate.
Thursday, Nov. 13: LHH Cochlear Implant Support
Group at the League for the Hard of Hearing
In anger, we are indignant and want to do something
50 Broadway, 2nd Floor; 5:30pm to 7pm
about it. The danger here is acting out impulsively.
*For more information, call (917) 305‐7751
We don’t like what we feel. Accept the feeling, but
or e‐mail audiology@lhh.org.
don’t do anything until you’ve caught up with your
Tuesday, Nov. 18: HLAA Chapter Meeting
feelings.
Thursday, Nov. 27: Happy Thanksgiving!
Saturday, Nov. 29: HLAA Founder’s Day
Feelings are only a partial truth about ourselves (e.g.,
Tuesday, Dec. 16: No HLAA Chapter Meeting!
I feel helpless vs. I am helpless). Expect to feel
Holiday party at the Olive Garden in Chelsea at 6pm
anxious in a difficult situation, but too much anxiety
[696 Avenue of the Americas, between 22 and 23 St.]
is bad — it’s paralyzing. Whatever you feel in an
*Questions and RSVP by December 1st to Barbara
unpleasant situation is your emotional temperature
Dagen at bdagen1@verizon.net or 212‐213‐9830.
at the moment. You need to accept it and not fight it
because you’re fighting yourself if you do. To loosen
*Register for next year’s annual national convention
up, yawn, stretch, take deep breaths (and be sure to
— and HLAA’s 30th birthday — occurring June 18‐
exhale!).
21, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee. Go to
www.hearingloss.org by 12/31 for discounted rates!
An action plan might include these steps:
• Feel.
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Walk4Hearing — Recap of the Inaugural as a clown at the Walk.
NYC Walk! *Special thanks to Alex Arriola for keeping our
Potential Team captain Excel document.
*Special thanks to George Hof for helping member
• 54 Teams, 450
Walkers Diane Sussman with thank you letters to
• Over $115,000 contributors.
raised *Thank you to online researchers Danielle Lee,
• Check the Chapter Aimey Chen, and Frank Annino.
Web site for *Special thanks to Myrna Mandell who visited Ellen
photos soon from California and volunteered as Registration
Supervisor on Walk Day.
Thank you to all our W4H sponsors, including The *Special thanks to Barbara Hochberg for jumping in
Central Park Boathouse, PLP Companies/Kleiman Family, as parks liaison and Walk Day volunteer
the Pope Family, Children’s Hearing Institute, The Mill coordinator.
Neck Family of Organizations, The Ruth Becker *Special thanks to Marilyn Ratner for overseeing all
Foundation, Sound Associates, NY Relay Service, Pat & our PR; to Suzanne DʹAmico for her PR efforts.
Bob Young, Joe Gordon, Otterbox, Richter+Ratner, Theater
*Thanks to Michael Pope and BriAnna Olsen who are
Development Fund, J&R Music and Computer World,
making a video of our Walk.
Chelsea Moving & Storage, Total Caption, The League for
the Hard of Hearing, VanB Enterprises, Harris
*Thanks to Executive Director, Brenda Battat, who
Communications, Ear Gear, Northeastern Technologies came up from DC and walked with us, wheeling the
Group, Inc., Chelsea Square Restaurant, Chelsea youngest Walk participant, her new grandson,
Cottage/Viet Grill, HLAA Huntington chapter, Dr. Eliot Sebastian, 6 weeks old
Folickman, Bell House Bed and Breakfast, Donna Lee/Joe *Thanks to Mr. G for calling a camera crew when he
Desmond. We appreciate an especially generous saw the size of the crowd and mentioning the W4H
contribution made by William Hanks to sponsor one of our for three consecutive weekdays prior to the event on
walkers, Roberta Alterman; Bella Hammerschlag, who
WCBS‐FM 101.1; and for covering the Walk in his
made a major contribution to Dr. Hammerschlagʹs team;
segment of the CW11 News at 10:40pm the night of
Steven Hagrup to Toni Iacolucciʹs team; Mary Cooper,
Christopher Pope, Fiona and Harvey Fein, Sandra Roche,
the event.
and Arthur Hadley to Anne Pope’s team; Jacquie *Ellen Semel was featured in a September cover story
Friedewald and John Friedewald to Will’s Team; New York in both the Chelsea Clinton News and the Westsider.
Community Trust as a grant from Susan Cohen Rebell The story also promoted the Walk4Hearing.
Fund in honor of Michael Ratner of Team Ratner. *Mayor Bloomberg welcomed walkers: “I’m pleased
to recognize the HLAA for hosting this event in our
SPECIAL THANKS AND NEWS COVERAGE! City, and for its longstanding dedication to
*Thank you to all Chapter members, Walk teams, and improving the lives of the deaf and hard‐of‐hearing.”
team captains for your part in making the Walk a
success both financially and by your presence on
Walk Day! This month we’re profiling two top fundraisers:
*Thanks to Kickoff volunteers: Beverly Knudsen, Anna Bella’s Hot Chili Steppers and Team MZG.
Lance Braithwaite, Linda Schott, Lois Weintraub, Anna Bella D’Amico: “Her self confidence and
Michele Zalkin, Gail Smith, JoanTeller; to Kickoff sense of style inspire everyone around her.”
speakers: Kim Jenkins, Barbara Michaels, Bob Young Those at the W4H may have observed a team
*Thanks to Walk Day volunteers: Dannah Rae bedecked in white T‐shirts with a high heeled, high
Sajorda, Beth Zuriff, Susan Slack, Dorothy Turitto, steppin’ chili pepper’ on it in red. These three dozen
Catherine Pope, Sara Falender, Dorri Majeska, participants walked to support Anna Bella D’Amico,
Neezam Premji, Miriam Quilan, Evelyn Simon, John an outgoing, sprightly 6‐year‐old with bilateral
Johnson, Rosanne Santaniello, Annie Zhou, Diogenes moderately severe hearing loss.
Mejia, Jenny Lam, Karen Westcott, Coby Ballard,
Alexis Brinkerhoff, Ane Johannessen, Michael Anna Bella was diagnosed at age 4 and the doctors
Lehrman, Natasha Rodriguez, Jon Owen, Michael believe she has been hearing‐impaired since birth.
Ratner, Anna and Benedikt Westrick. Currently she is in the first‐grade gifted and talented
*Thanks to Nicole Romano for entertaining the kids program at a mainstream public school in Staten
4
Island. Besides school, her days are filled with sports, developed her hearing loss around the time of her
music, and American Girl dolls — she keeps asking college graduation, and it progressively worsened so
her mother, Suzanne, when the American Girl that now she is profoundly hearing‐impaired in both
company is going to make a doll with hearing aids. ears. In fact, she became so adept at lip‐reading while
her hearing declined that it wasn’t until three years
Bright and mature for her young age, “Anna Bella ago that an audiologist convinced her to wear
has embraced her hearing aids and faces her hearing hearing aids — and even today, her lip‐reading skills
loss head‐on,” Suzanne says. “She lets her are so excellent that many of her friends are
personality and style do the talking, right down to surprised to learn the severity of her hearing loss.
her hearing aids — she wears a behind‐the‐ear aid
with glittered ear molds and bedazzles them every However, phone conversations, television viewing,
morning with beads to match her outfit!” and multiple‐person conversations in a loud setting
are a thing of the past for Gayle. But what most
Her parents have also committed themselves to prompted her to seriously consider cochlear implant
hearing loss advocacy to provide Anna Bella and surgery are her two young children, Max and Zoe.
other hearing‐impaired children with the tools and Her husband, Jeff, stands by her decision. “As Max is
resources necessary to help them succeed. This getting older he is talking more and more and it has
includes starting a support group for parents of become very difficult for her to dialogue with him,”
hearing‐impaired kids in Staten Island. It also means Jeff says. “Although Zoe is not talking just yet,
joining the Walk4Hearing and the HLAA. “The Gayle does not want to have the same problems she
D’Amico family will be joining the HLAA as soon as has in communicating with Max.”
I find five free minutes to sign us up,” Suzanne says.
Gayle is the inspiration behind Team MZG, which
So how did they come up with such a spunky name raised an astonishing $6,795 during just a short
for their team? It was Anna Bella’s father, John, who interval prior to the Walk. They found out about the
thought of “Hot Chili Steppers” — that’s the name of event because of Team E.A.R. (profiled in the October
a competitive jump rope team in Jump In, one of N&V) — Jeff’s sister is friends with the sister of the
Anna Bella’s favorite movies — and the family Team E.A.R. captain — and once the Greensteins
agreed that the lively name captured her personality found out about the Walk, they immediately seized
and spirit. Initially the the opportunity to participate. It was to not only be a
underdogs in the film, the chance to raise money for a good cause that impacted
Hot Chili Steppers them personally, but also an opening to inform their
ultimately win the friends and family about Gayle’s decision to get a
competition. And just like cochlear implant. And that news about Gayle’s
their film counterparts, the choice most likely drove the team’s fundraising
W4H Hot Chili Steppers success, Jeff says.
team also proved
successful by raising a Over the past year Gayle has become more open
remarkable total of $4,400! about her hearing loss. But she admits that the
But most importantly, difficulty in finding others who initially had hearing
Anna Bella shows herself to be a winner and then later received a cochlear implant was
everyday, with her self‐confidence and refusal to discouraging while she was making up her mind
let hearing loss define her. A high steppin’ girl, about getting an implant. Fortunately, over the past
indeed! few months Gayle did meet some people whose
positive responses to getting a cochlear implant
Gayle Greenstein: “She is the rock of this family
encouraged her, and now Gayle and Jeff are looking
and I know our entire family is so happy that she
forward to this next chapter in their life, he says.
will have the opportunity to better her life.” —Jeff
Greenstein
He added, “I can’t wait to be able to tell my children
Great Neck, NY, resident Gayle Greenstein, 33, made what a true inspiration their mother has been to me
a tough decision about one month prior to the Walk: and how strong and brave she really is.”
to move forward with getting a cochlear implant. She
~Elizabeth Stump
5
successful Walk? I have never seen a happier
WHAT DID WALK PARTICIPANTS SAY? bunch.”
Anne Pope: “Our first NYC walk was a greater
success than we ever dared dream. We raised at least
$115,000 — $40,000 more than any other walk in the
country and one‐seventh of the total! We hit two
local TV stations and several event lists. We made it
to the Big Apple with style!”
Kim Jenkins: “Ellen has gone above and beyond what
HLAA Founder’s Day: A Brief History
is required to educate me on the hearing loss
community and what it truly entails. Ellen is a leader
by example and her dedication to hearing loss The annual celebration of our birthday anniversary is
prevention and awareness should be applauded. I observed by chapters on Founder’s Day in
have learned so much under her tutelage. She invited November, because it was on November 29, 1979,
me to speak recently at the Walk4Hearing kickoff, that Howard “Rocky” Stone established what was
which was one of the most fulfilling experiences of then called Self Help for Hard of Hearing People
my life.” (SHHH) for hearing‐impaired Americans.
On Founder’s Day we look back on our amazing
Toni Iacolucci: “Doing an event for the first time can
achievements of the past 29 years. It’s a time to
be downright terrifying. But with Anneʹs inspiration,
celebrate being a part of this extraordinary
Ellenʹs incredible mind for details and thoughtful
organization and to demonstrate a commitment to
outreach to so many different people, an ʹaceʹ W4H
HLAA’s future. All chapters are asked to express
planning committee, and everyone who participated,
their appreciation and support by contributing funds
it was truly a day to remember.”
to the National office — the funds will assist the
chapter development department.
Barbara Dagen: “The sight of all those yellow caps
streaming together was inspiring! Talk about Founder Rocky Stone was a retired Central
visibility! I hadnʹt realized part of our path was Intelligence Agency officer who served as executive
outside the park, and when I saw all those yellow‐ director of SHHH until 1993. The following year he
capped walkers on the street, in full view of the New suffered significant vision loss due to macular
York community, I realized what visibility really degeneration and also received a cochlear implant.
means… How many smiling people make a He passed away in 2004. This June, his son Michael
became President of the Board of Trustees of HLAA.
Access to the Arts in New York City
OPEN‐CAPTIONED THEATER ‐ Find captioned theater listings nationwide on www.c2net.org
Theater Access Project (TAP) captions Broadway and Off‐Broadway productions each month. Tickets are
discounted. For listings & application www.tdf.org/tap or 212‐221‐1103, 212‐719‐45377 (TTY)
*Upcoming OPEN‐CAPTIONED Shows: [See TAP for tickets]
Young Frankenstein (11/12, 8 PM); To Be Or Not To Be (11/15, 2 PM); The Lion King (11/19, 2 PM;
12/03, 2 PM); Radio City Christmas Spectacular (12/10, 5 PM; 12/11, 8 PM); Equus (12/20, 2 PM);
South Pacific (1/21/09, 2 PM)
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OPEN‐CAPTIONED MOVIES –
For updated listings, go to www.insightcinema.org or www.regalcinemas.com/movies/open_cap.html
REGAL BATTERY PARK STADIUM 11,102 N. End Avenue–Vesey & West Streets (212) 945‐4370.
REGAL–UA KAUFMAN STUDIOS CINEMA 14, 35th Ave. & 38th St., Long Island City (718) 786‐1722
REGAL–UA SHEEPSHEAD BAY‐BROOKLYN, Knapp St & Harkness Ave (718) 615‐1053.
REAR‐WINDOW CAPTIONED MOVIES ‐ For listings go to www.FOMDI.com. Ask for a special window
when buying your ticket. The window reflects the text that’s shown on the rear of the theater
AMC Empire on 42nd Street. (212) 398‐2597, call Tues afternoon for next week’s schedule
Clearview Chelsea Cinemas, 260 W. 23rd St., Auditorium 4, 212‐691‐5519. www.clearviewcinemas.com/tripod.shtml
The Bronx: AMC Cinema Bay Plaza, 718‐320‐1659.
MUSEUMS WITH CAPTIONED EVENTS & ASSISTIVE DEVICES ‐
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave. 212‐879‐5500 Ext. 3561 (V), 212‐570‐3828 (TTY)
Real‐Time Captioning of lectures upon request – This new service requires at least three weeks notice.
Gallery Talk with ALDs (meet at gallery talk station, Great Hall)
The Museum of Modern Art, 1 East 53rd St., Access Programs 212‐708‐9864, 212‐247‐1230 (TTY)
ALDs are available for lectures, gallery talks, & Family Programs. Infrared is available in Titus Theaters.
Cochlear Americas Celebration 2009 Holiday Party
Cochlear Celebration, a four‐day event featuring social Come join us at the Manhattan Chapter’s holiday
and educational activities for the Cochlear community, party on Dec. 16th. The festivities will be taking place
will be taking place in Anaheim, California, on March 26‐ at 6pm at the Olive Garden in Chelsea [696 Avenue
29, 2009. In addition to meeting peers with cochlear of the Americas, between 22 and 23 St.].
implants and experts in the field, highlights you’ll enjoy Members will order off the regular Olive Garden
include a private party at Disneylandʹs Big Thunder menu and be responsible for their own bills.
Festival Arena and a Twilight Pass to Disneyland. Go Questions and RSVP by December 1st to Barbara
here for agenda details and online registration: Dagen at bdagen1@verizon.net or 212‐213‐9830.
www.cochlearamericas.com/celebration.
*Please note that the party will be in lieu of the
regular Chapter Meeting!
For Kids and Teens…
Turning Points Workshop, a day of fun and stimulating Special thanks to
activities put on by the League for the Hard of Hearing Gerry Bichovsky, Joe
for teens in grades 5‐8 who are deaf or hearing impaired, Gordon, Anne Pope,
will take place on Sunday, November 16, from 9:30 AM to Catherine Wylie for their
3:00 PM in NYC. Parents are also encouraged to take part. kind donations to the
Learn more and RSVP by Nov. 9 here: Manhattan Chapter.
www.lhh.org/calendar/Turning_Point.pdf.
Mention of suppliers
or devices in this Our condolences to Vilma
newsletter does not Brodsky (President of the
mean HLAA‐ HLAA‐ Huntington, LI
Manhattan chapter) on the loss of her
endorsement, husband, Al.
nor does exclusion
suggest disapproval.
7
Manhattan Chapter
c/o Barbara Dagen,
141 E. 33rd St. (3B)
New York, NY 10016
Please check your address label for the date of your last dues payment and, if you are a National member, there will be
an “NM” after the date. Report any discrepancies to Mary Fredericks. Thanks!