Is Your Library Hearing-Friendly?

As library staff, it is our duty to ensure that our library spaces and services are accessibile to all community members, including those with hearing loss. Join us to better understand the difficulties people with hearing loss experience and the need for different strategies for communication and accessibility to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This webinar will cover the benefits and limitations of personal hearing devices, the ADA law and effective communication as it pertains to libraries, and the pros and cons of different assistive listening systems (ALS). This webinar will also include examples of ALS installations at libraries, best practices for RFPs, educational materials for patrons, how to find trained installers of user-friendly technology (hearing loops), and share what is on the horizon.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Explain the nature of hearing loss and the benefits and limitations of hearing aids and cochlear implants in assisting individuals with hearing impairments;
• Better understand the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it pertains to communication in public spaces such as libraries, including various strategies for effective communication and accessibility to accommodate people with hearing loss in different environments; and
• Evaluate the pros and cons of different assistive listening systems that comply with the ADA.

Who Should Attend

This webinar is intended for public library directors, and youth and adult program staff. 

Panelists

Angela Meyers is the coordinator of youth and inclusive services at the Bridges Library System in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Meyers ​is the founder of the Library Memory Project​, which consists of twenty-one libraries across two counties partnering to offer memory cafes and educational opportunities to those living with memory loss and their care partners. Meyers has a Bachelor of Arts degree (2002) and a MLIS degree (2008) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She received the Graduate of the Last Decade Award from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2018. Meyers is a Dementia Friends Wisconsin master trainer and is a continuing education adjunct instructor for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Information School (iSchool).

Juliëtte Sterkens, AuD, is an audiologist and public speaker with over forty years of experience in hearing rehabilitation. She’s now a consumer advocate with the Hearing Loss Association of America. Dr. Sterkens has published many articles and lectured internationally to consumers, audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and venue operators. Her TEDxOshkosh talk has been viewed thousands of times. Dr. Sterkens’ expertise includes living well with hearing loss, hearing accessibility, and hearing loops. Her work has led to hundreds of hearing loop installations in Wisconsin. She has received numerous awards for her efforts, including the American Academy of Audiology Presidential and UW-Oshkosh Alumna of the Year Awards. She serves on the board of HEAR in the Fox Cities, a non-profit that helps pay for hearing aids for children in North-East Wisconsin.

**NOTE**: Access information for this learning event will be sent to all registrants by American Library Association before the start of the event. In order to take this course/attend this webinar you will need to create (or use an existing) ALA account to proceed. It is free to create an account and you do not need to be an ALA member. If you do not wish to create an ALA account please cancel your registration.

CALL Training Partner for this Event: American Library Association