Canadian Hard of Hearing Association – BC Chapter

Coming Events

Sep 24

Posted by Michelle Santiago in Coming Events | Comments off

This month’s CHHA-BC e-LOOP for April 2021 is available by clicking here or visiting the CHHA-BC Newsletter page.

Updated Report on Subsidies for Hearing Aids — by CHHA-BC Board Member Jessica Niemela. Please check the “Hearing Loss” tab for a direct link to this excellent article.

 

The CHHA-BC office has moved!  Our new address is:  #208, 2005 Quebec Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 2Z6.  Toll Free: 1-866-888-2442.  The local number is: 604.423.3247 

 

CHHA-BC Announcement Regarding AGM Speaker

Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction to speak at CHHA-BC AGM

CHHA-BC invites you to attend the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, May 18th (7:00 p.m. PDT to 9:00 p.m. PDT) on the zoom platform. Hon. Nicholas Simons, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, will address CHHA-BC members and friends on accessibility legislation and other matters of importance to hard of hearing persons. Following the Minister’s address, the National Executive Director of CHHA, Lee Pigeau, will speak.

Please register using the link below. While all are invited to attend the AGM, please know that only current members of CHHA-BC will be eligible to vote. Captioning services will be provided. Please register by May 16th.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

CHHA-BC

 

REGISTRATION LINK:

Henry Kutarna CHHA BC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: CHHA-BC AGM
Time: May 18, 2021 07:00 PM Vancouver

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/96934411518

Meeting ID: 969 3441 1518
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This month’s CHHA-BC e-LOOP for April 2021 is available by clicking here or visiting the CHHA-BC Newsletter page.

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“Better At Home Program” – CHHA-BC Webinar

Apr 5

Posted by Michelle Santiago in Articles and News | Comments off

CHHA BC and Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility are holding a webinar.

Form of event: Virtual via Zoom

Date: Wednesday, June 16th, 2021

Time: 7:00-8:30PM

Please click the link below for the registration.

https://zoom.us/j/98223833950

We are looking forward to seeing you at our event!

Masks and Face Shields

Sep 28

Posted by Michelle Santiago in Articles and News | Comments off

CHHA-BC members are attempting to stay informed about new developments in masks and face shields. Due to the difficulties in understanding and being understood caused by wider mask usage there is a heightened awareness of various new products. While CHHA-BC does not endorse a particular type of mask or face shield we have been approached by manufacturers.

If you are interested in discussing this subject please do not hesitate to call the office (604.423.3247 or toll free 866.888.2442). Thank you.

Here is a listing of four products that have recently come to our attention. CHHA-BC members should treat this list as a work in progress. Items listed here are not necessarily endorsed by CHHA-BC but are listed purely for information.

  1. Technomask: www.technomask.ca or www.technomask.ch
  2. Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility in partnership with Tinkerine: Click here (Note: Discount offer to CHHA-BC members)
  3. Packright Shield
  4. CHHA National www.chha.ca in partnership with Como Foundation Como Foundation (Note: Discount offer to CHHA members)

CHHA-BC will continue to receive updates from various manufacturers and publish basic information to assist members in their consumer research.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Resources on Clear Face Masks

“Communication Accessibility in Isolation: The Invisible Factor” A Canadian consortium working with manufacturers in Canada to produce made-in-Canada clear face masks. Published in CHHA BC’s Hearing Loop
magazine CHHA-BC Newsletter page

Face Shields essential for communication and Tinkerine Face shields, pages 7 and 8 , June issue of the CHHA-BC Loop publication. CHHA-BC Newsletter page

“ASHA Urges CDC to Emphasize Need for Clear Face Masks for the Hearing Impaired.” (The Hearing Review article from June 9, 2020) Click
here. ASHA letter can be found here

The Communicator (See-Through Surgical Mask): This mask costs $60 US for a box of 40. Currently, out of stock but planning to have more available in July. It is a see-through medical mask approved by the FDA and started being used in hospitals in 2017. https://safenclear.com/ Note: an interim order for their importation to Canada has been approved but SAC is currently investigating if these marks meet surgical grade standards for protection against droplets due to a disclaimer on the Clearmask LLC website they have the following disclaimer:
“DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, THE CLEARMASK™ IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR USE IN HOSPITALS AND BY HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITHOUT OBJECTION FROM THE FDA. THE CLEARMASK™ IS A FACE MASK THAT MAY BE USED WHEN FDA -CLEARED MASKS ARE UNAVAILABLE. PER THE FDA, USE OF THESE MASKS IN A SURGICAL SETTING, OR WHERE SIGNIFICANT EXPOS URE TO LIQUID BODILY OR OTHER HAZARDOUS FLUIDS MAY BE EXPECTED, IS NOT RECOMMENDED.”

HMCARE has developed a transparent mask in Switzerland and the company plans to start selling them in 2021 directly to medical professionals. It is planning to pursue European certification and eventually will pursue FDA approval. https://hmcare.ch/. Or click here Also see more information in Popular Mechanics, June 10, 2020. Click here