On a cold, wintry Saturday, 41 Canadians gathered across the nation to attend the CHHA – Young Adults Network’s ‘Empowering Voices: Navigating Employment for the Hard of Hearing’ virtual event.
CHHA-BC Board Member, Nicole Leung, met with Keegan Noxell, President of CHHA-YAN, to reflect on the 90-minute session. Here, they share their thoughts:
Keegan Noxell – CHHA YAN President
Nicole: Keegan, why was an event like this held?
Keegan: In serving members aged 18-35 with varying degrees of hearing loss across Canada, one of the hot topics and challenges we navigate as hard of hearing young people is employment, whether it’s barriers to gainful employment, requesting accommodations or simply learning skills to navigate the various situations one might encounter in the workplace.
Nicole: Can you tell us about the guest panelists who attended?
Keegan: We were extremely fortunate to be able to recruit such a wonderful group of young professionals from various sectors, starting with you, Nicole! As a registered nurse and advocate for accessibility in BC, it was a great combination for the interactive discussion we wanted to have. Angela Slessor, who came highly recommended to us as a Teacher for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing from the Greater Toronto Area with lived experiences, added a perspective we wanted early on from the education sector. Adrienne Miller, a CHHA mentor and Senior Manager for Early Talent at a large Canadian bank offered her perspectives from the corporate sector. Trevor Kezwer, a lawyer from Toronto, was called upon for his entrepreneurial skills following the founding of his own practice and previously having worked in government. Eni Oguntona, currently a law student, was able to bring her perspectives in navigating various post-secondary education situations and will soon be embarking on a role with a corporate firm in Halifax.
We were thrilled to have Anne Marie Langlois facilitate this discussion as our moderator. Anne Marie applied her lived experience with hearing loss, along with over 25 professional years in the human resources field, to round out our panel.
With this group, not only were we able to highlight the diversity in roles and career paths, but also the opportunities available to those with hearing loss in the workplace are truly limitless. A huge thank you to all that were involved in making this event possible!
Nicole: An impressive group for sure.
Keegan: As for the event, could you share something that resonated with you?
Nicole: When a parent shared that the conversation was valuable and expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to join, it really hit home for me. Growing up without hard of hearing role models or peers — and with little information about how hard of hearing individuals pursue their aspirations — was a significant disadvantage. It affected my perceptions and my preparedness for the future. For example, how does a hard of hearing nurse navigate alarms and busy conversations to perform their duties? How does a hard of hearing nurse hear through a stethoscope? Can a hard of hearing person even be a nurse? And where does a hard of hearing teenager begin when selecting prerequisites or applying to university? What I truly felt during this event was hope. I felt hope for the 14-year-old who attended, and that made my heart feel full knowing they now have this resource and inspiration.
Nicole: How would your 14-year-old self feel if you had attended this session?
Keegan: Firstly, can we just take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate the reach and impact that this single event had?! It’s truly one of the motivating factors in continuing the work we do here at CHHA and more importantly within the Young Adults Network (YAN) – to educate and empower young people to reach their full potential!
As I know you can relate to this, Nicole, in having attended mainstream school from an early age, this opportunity would have likely been unavailable (or even known) to us! However, I truly believe that attending this event would have been a transformational experience for my 14-year-old self. Hearing from fellow hard of hearing peers in an accessible space, with real-time CART and ASL interpretation, would have been inspiring.
Nicole: And to close, what would you say today after this event?
Keegan: The event served as a powerful reminder of the strength found in community and the importance of shared experiences. In fostering dialogue and exchanging practical insights, we not only empower ourselves but pave the way for a more inclusive and understanding workplace and society. Let this be the beginning of continued advocacy and support as we navigate challenges together and amplify the voices of hard of hearing professionals across Canada.
Stay tuned for upcoming events and resources from the Young Adults Network and CHHA BC Chapter.
CHHA Young Adult Network
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHHAYoungAdults/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chhayoungadults/
Website: https://chha.ca/yan/
CHHA BC Chapter
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHHABCofficial/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chhabcofficial
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chhabc/
Website: https://chha-bc.org/
