Accessibility & Hearing

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Accessibility & Hearing

Q & A MILLICENT SIMMONDS

The Power of Representation and How to Successfully Overcome Barriers

P H OTO : PA I G E K I N D L I C K (@ PA I G E X R AG E)

Deaf actress Millicent Simmonds discusses her acting career, why representation matters, facing barriers in life, and more.

Read the full Q&A on page 3.

Hearing Loss Must Be Confronted at All Ages of Life — Here’s Why The impact of unmanaged hearing loss, throughout the life span, is considerable.

Chris Allan, M.Sc., Ph.D., reg. CASLPO, President, Canadian Academy of Audiology Jean Holden, M.Sc., MBA, Executive Director, Canadian Academy of Audiology

T

This article was sponsored by the Canadian Academy of Audiology.

he impact of unmanaged hearing loss, throughout the life span, is considerable.

It can cause delayed speech, language, classroom learning, and social development in infants and children.

An estimated 20 percent of adolescents have hearing loss, which is often caused by listening to personal devices for too long at high volumes. This can result in challenges in education and isolation from social connections. In this case, the hearing loss is preventable.

Adults with hearing loss, can experience difficulty in learning job skills and can have slower or little progress in career development. Social isolation can cause anxiety and loneliness, and can create challenges in maintaining healthy family relationships.

Older Canadians who experience hearing loss typically wait six to nine years from the onset of hearing loss

before taking steps to manage their hearing health. Part of the reason is a belief that they’ll be considered old if they use hearing assists. The problem is that they gradually isolate themselves as they find it more frustrating to socialize and engage in their normal activities. This isolation can

Hearing loss should be a consideration in health maintenance — like vision, healthy weight, healthy foods, exercise, and healthy relationships.

lead to loneliness and depression. Also, research is showing us that there’s a connection between unmanaged hearing loss and earlier onset of cognitive decline, and that there’s also an increased risk of falling at any age with unmanaged hearing loss.

It’s very important to embrace your and your family’s hearing health.

Hearing loss should be a consideration in health maintenance — like vision, healthy weight, healthy foods, exercise, and healthy relationships.

Protect your hearing, manage it, and get advice on how to lead a full life with hearing loss. Audiologists are health professionals who can assess hearing, advise on hearing assists, and provide counselling on how to integrate healthy hearing management at any stage in life. Use our FindAnAudiologist.ca app to find a professional for advice.

At the Canadian Academy of Audiology, we support free access to accessibility education.

Visit canadian audiology.ca/ for-the-public to learn more about accessibility in virtual meetings and phone and video solutions for people with hearing loss.

Publisher: Ashley Cheung Director of Business Development: Julia Colavecchia Country Manager Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager Raymond Fan Designer: Kylie Armishaw Content & Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Toronto Star or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com. @MediaplanetCA

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Dr. André Marcoux Vice President of Audiology and Product Management, WS Audiology

Why Live with Untreated Hearing Loss?

Hearing Aids Can Be Life-Changing!

Millions of Canadians live with uncorrected hearing loss because they don’t want to wear hearing aids. But the hearing aids of today are nothing like they used to be.

D.F. McCourt

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aybe I'm having a little bit of difficulty hearing the TV, but I can boost the volume, even though my partner might not like it.

Maybe I’m having a little bit of difficulty in settings where a lot of people are talking at the same time, but when things are quiet, I do just fine. I don’t need hearing aids right now.”

When Dr. André Marcoux was in clinical practice, this was a refrain he heard all the time. As we grow older, virtually all of us will encounter some degree of hearing loss. It’s a condition that affects more than half of the over-40 population in Canada, and a whopping 93 percent of those aged 70 to 79. And yet, because we associate hearing loss with aging, and because aging remains stigmatized in our society, only about a third of those with hearing loss make use of hearing aids. Many Canadians will live in denial for years or decades rather than take the simple steps that could dramatically improve their health and their lives.

Dr. Marcoux, who wears hearing aids himself, is profoundly sympathetic to hearing aid hesitancy. Today, as Vice President of Audiology and Product Management at WS Audiology, he’s dedicated to bridging that resistance with a new generation of hearing aids suited to image-conscious Canadians.

“We’ve been on this journey to provide more pleasant aesthetics to hearing aids,” says Dr. Marcoux. “These new form factors are really a major step beyond anything we've done before. I call it device normalization. At the level of product design, we've normalized the hearing aid by making it look like a wireless earbud, a device that carries no stigma whatsoever.”

Stylish Bluetooth earbuds that also happen to be medical devices The revolutionary design of the Active

Pro hearing aid from Signia is award-winning, introducing an aesthetic that challenges the assumption that medical devices cannot look like mainstream consumer goods. Of course, this radical redesign is only possible thanks to technical innovation allowing ever more miniaturization, and other advancements in hearing aid technology that extend well below the surface level.

The Signia Active Pro also functions as a high-definition Bluetooth headset, connecting directly with phones, TVs, and other devices.

It features on-thego customization through a smartphone app. And it hosts a cutting-edge suite of signal-processing algorithms that do far more than just amplify sound.

“We're now able to do some really cool and very advanced signal processing,” says Dr. Marcoux. “With our recent platforms, we're able to process speech and noise so effectively that our studies show that, in challenging listening situations, people with hearing loss wearing our hearing aids are able to outperform and understand better than people with normal hearing.”

people with hearing loss say they don’t need hearing aids because they’re fine in quiet environments, it’s not a huge leap to see how that can lead to them choosing to spend more time in quiet environments, exacerbating the social isolation that’s already such a concern among the older population. It becomes a self-reinforcing pattern with worrying implications for cognitive decline.

“We have an increasing body of research that shows that individuals w it h even mild levels of hearing loss are at elevated risk for future cognitive decline in their older years,” says Dr. Marcoux.

“Early detection and early intervention of hearing loss can minimize cognitive decline and dement ia dow n the road. We want people to be aware of their hearing loss earlier, and to know that hearing aids are not only beneficial for people with severe hearing loss.

They provide benefit to people with mild or moderate hearing loss as well, regardless of their age.”

At the end of the day, Dr. Marcoux simply hopes that more Canadians will consider hearing aids with an open mind. These devices no longer look like the hearing aids of decades past.

They’re sleeker, more convenient, and far more intelligent. And, given that hearing loss is an insidious condition that sneaks up on you slowly and can alter your behaviour without you even noticing, it’s never too early to trial a pair of hearing aids and see — or hear — the difference for yourself.

Early detection and early intervention of hearing loss can minimize cognitive decline and dementia down the road. We want people to be aware of their hearing loss earlier, and to know that hearing aids are not only beneficial for people with severe hearing loss.

Uncorrected hearing loss is isolating and unhealthy These challenging listening situations — noisy environments with a lot of people talking all at once — are exactly the ones where people with hearing loss have traditionally been the most lost. And they’re also some of the richest social environments, providing the psychological nourishment we need. When

Visit a local hearing clinic for a trial of SIGNIA Active Pro. This article was sponsored by WS Audiology.

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For those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, it can be a much more difficult path to connection, belonging, and living a full life.

What’s the difference between a sign language interpreter and a Deaf interpreter?

How One Organization Enriches the Lives of Those with Hearing Loss Anne Papmehl

O Learn more about the many ways DeafBlind Ontario Services is enriching the lives of people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, non-verbal, and DeafBlind by visiting deafblind ontario.com.

This article was sponsored

by DeafBlind Ontario Services.

ver 1.3 million or five percent of Canadians over the age of 15 live with a form of a hearing disability. In Ontario alone, that number is approximately 563,350 or 4.19 percent of people over age 15. In addition, 35 percent of Canadians with a hearing disability also have a visual disability, according to the Canadian Survey on Disability (2017).

Mediaplanet spoke with Andrea Pringle, Director of Growth and Operations at DeafBlind Ontario Services, and Tracey Veldhuis, Director of Community Services at DeafBlind Ontario Services, to learn more about how they help those who are Deaf or hard of hearing connect with society.

How do you support members of the Deaf community?

TRACEY VELDHUIS: Our reach extends to remote areas and urban centres across the province with supported living homes and customized community services. We also offer supported independent living for people to live semi-independently

within the community with minimal support, as well as for people living in long-term care settings.

What differentiates you as a service provider?

TV: We believe that everyone has the right to decide their own future, make their own decisions, and access information in their preferred mode of communication, whatever that happens to be. We do this by using a holistic, person-centred approach, customized to each person’s individual needs, goals, communication skills, and level of understanding.

Tell us about the importance of sign language and Deaf interpreters.

ANDREA PRINGLE: Communicating thoughts, feelings, and ideas is a basic human need. For those who are Deaf or hard of hearing, it can be a much more difficult path to connection, belonging, and living a full life. People who are Deaf are legally entitled to request and access interpreting services when interacting with both public and private parties.

AMI Debuts Fashion Dis, a Fashion TV Show for All Abilities

D Ardra Shephard Creator & Host, Fashion Dis

Melissa Participant, Fashion Dis

espite promising steps to include members of the disability community in all facets of society, fashion continues to be largely inaccessible.

AMI’s Fashion Dis aims to change that.

Available for streaming on AMI.ca and the AMI-tv App, Fashion Dis is a game-changer in the makeover space, challenging traditional norms that lack inclusion.

Each episode of Fashion Dis celebrates the head-to-toe overhaul of a frustrated style seeker discouraged by an industry that lacks adaptive options.

Fashion Dis is the creation of host Ardra Shephard, a member of the multiple sclerosis community who was frustrated by the lack of fashionable clothing options, especially when she had to dispense with her beloved high heels in favour of a mobility device when getting around became a challenge.

Each episode of Fashion Dis begins with a participant having a one-on-one with Ardra, where they discuss frustrations they face with fashion. Then it’s on to hair, makeup, and clothing fittings, where adaptive options are offered and advice given on how to achieve a drop-dead look every day. The episode concludes with a professional photo shoot and reveal.

Fashion Dis celebrates partner companies offering products that are accessible while being fashion-forward, and encourages businesses to address members of society who are under-represented in this space.

Fashion Dis is the latest new program to air on AMI, a not-for-profit media company that establishes and supports a voice for Canadians with disabilities, representing their interests, concerns, and values through accessible media, reflection, and portrayal. Stream episodes at AMI.ca or on the AMI-tv App.

Learn more about AMI, its programming, and where it can be found at AMI.ca, on Facebook @AccessibleMediaInc, Twitter @AccessibleMedia, and Instagram @accessiblemediainc.

This article was sponsored by Accessible Media Inc.

Andrea Pringle Director of Growth and Operations, DeafBlind Ontario Services

What tips can you offer when communicating with Deaf people via an ASL/LSQ interpreter or Deaf interpreter?

AP: It’s important to look at and speak directly to the person who is Deaf and not the interpreter, avoiding personal conversations with the interpreter.

They’re working as a means of providing language transmission and not as a participant in the conversation.

One of the people we support, Sara, encourages people to learn the ASL alphabet. She was born profoundly Deaf and ASL is her first language.

Although she does understand and write English, this is one of the easy ways she believes people can support individuals who are Deaf.

Sara

Q& A C OVE R STO RY

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New makeover series serves the disability community, who are under-represented in the fashion space.

AP: A sign language interpreter is trained to translate between spoken English and American Sign Language (ASL) or spoken French and Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ). This individual allows for effective two-way communication between the Deaf individual and the hearing person. A Deaf interpreter is similar to an ASL or LSQ interpreter, except this individual is also Deaf, but highly skilled in translating from one form of sign language to another.

Tracey Veldhuis Director of Community Services, DeafBlind Ontario Services

Millicent Simmonds

Deaf actress Millicent Simmonds discusses her acting career, why representation matters, facing barriers in life, and more.

What sparked your interest in pursuing a career in acting?

I don't think I ever pursued a career in acting. I would say that I fell into a career in acting. I attended a Deaf school when I was younger and was involved in the drama club. I loved performing on stage and travelling with my friends. We mostly performed Shakespeare plays. It wasn't until my experience with Wonderstruck and filming in New York that I really believed I could do this professionally.

I feel so lucky and it still doesn't feel real that I get to do this.

Why is representation of the Deaf community in film and television so important, especially for youth?

I never saw myself on screen. I never saw my language on screen. I think that’s a huge reason why I never considered pursuing a career in acting. I just assumed that kids like me couldn't be on television or in the movies. It's important to me for kids to be able to see themselves represented on screen and to know that they exist and that their stories and their experiences as a Deaf person are valid.

How has medical technology impacted your day-to-day life as a member of the Deaf community?

I can't speak for everyone in the Deaf

community. Everyone has a different opinion and approach to being Deaf. I can only speak about my experience, and for me, medical technology allows me to enjoy sounds and music that I otherwise wouldn't be able to enjoy.

Sometimes I enjoy hearing and sometimes I enjoy the silence. There are advantages to both. Sign language gives me the freedom to experience both worlds.

What advice can you offer to youth facing barriers in life?

Don’t listen to people who try to tell you what you’re capable or not capable of. If you enjoy something, dedicate time every single day to learning more about what you want to do. The more you learn about it and the more experience you have, the better prepared you are. Silence the voices telling you that you can't, even if it's sometimes your own. Most importantly, have fun. If you're not enjoying it, it's not for you.

What should we look out for from you in the future?

I'm really excited about acting in and producing a TV series called True Biz based on the book by Deaf author Sara Nović. It's unlike anything I've ever read, and, I think, unlike anything we've seen before.

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Penny Leclair Vice Chair, CNIB Deafblind Community Services

Sherry Grabowski Vice President, CNIB Deafblind Community Services

Tyler Burgess Manager, CNIB Deafblind Community Services

Canadians Who Are Deafblind Shouldn’t Have to Move to Access Services Canadians with sight loss rely on their hearing. Canadians with hearing loss rely on their sight.

And Deafblind Canadians rely on critical support services that are not uniformly available across Canada.

D.F. McCourt

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solation is an experience that all Canadians have become familiar with over the last two years.

We’ve felt our worlds shrink and found connecting with others to be more difficult than ever. For most of us, this is new. And we have faith that science and time will return us back to normal. But, for many Canadians with disabilities, the isolation of the pandemic has been a continuation of existing challenges. For people who are Deafblind — that is, people who have both hearing and sight loss — taking independence and opportunity for granted has never been an option.

Penny Leclair of Kingston, Ont., is the Vice Chair of CNIB Deafblind Community Services, an affiliate organization of CNIB (Canadian National Institute for the Blind) that provides services to Canadians who are Deafblind to help them increase their independence and their ability to communicate with others.

Among those services are what’s known as “intervenor services,” which involve a trained intervenor acting as the eyes and ears of the person who is Deafblind. The intervenor supports the individual through daily tasks like grocery shopping and medical appointments, and uses alternate languages like tactile sign language to facilitate communication between the individual and everyone else in the hearing and sighted world.

Leclair is not only the Vice Chair for CNIB Deafblind Community Services, she’s also a client who relies on the organization’s intervenor services to help her be as independent as possible.

“I've always been blind and, as a blind person, my hearing was everything,” Leclair says. “I knew when something was boiling on the stove because I could hear it. If I dropped something, I could hear where it went.

When I started losing my hearing as well, I no longer had any of that. I had no access to the news, no access to the phone, and no access to the TV. All I had was my computer and a braille display. Your world shrinks. You become isolated. I became a lot quieter, more withdrawn. My personality changed.”

Navigating the world by touch Intervenor services for Canadians with dual sensory loss can provide a potent countermeasure to the challenges Leclair describes, but many live in jurisdictions where Deafblind services like these aren’t readily available. When crucial supports are absent, it can take a heavy and ongoing toll on a person’s health, both physical and mental.

When Leclair first lost her hearing, she was living in British Columbia,

where the only services for people who are Deafblind were provided on a volunteer basis. “I've been totally Deaf and totally blind,” Leclair says. “I know what it's like to live without intervenor services. I know how difficult that is, and I know the depression that comes with it.”

Living in Ontario now, Leclair has access to support from CNIB Deafblind Community Services, which she says she relies on to live life on her own terms. “It gives me back my independence,” she says.

“The inter venor comes in and it’s their job to do what I need or what I decide. If I want to be spontaneous and say, ‘The heck with it, I'm not going grocery shopping today, I'm just going to go and have fun,’ then that’s what happens. It’s empowering.”

Today, some of Leclair’s hearing has been restored with a cochlear implant, but she still benefits profoundly from the support she receives from CNIB Deafblind Community Services, as do many others with varying degrees of sensory loss.

“People who are totally blind and Deaf aren’t the only type of people we work with,” says Sherry Grabowski, Vice President of CNIB Deafblind Community Services. “We also work with people who have some remaining sight and people who still have some hearing.

That's why we offer so many different kinds of services and communication styles, because every client is unique.”

katchewan is already highlighting the dramatic need for nationwide access to supports such as trained intervenors.

“Access to intervenors is a gamechanger in Saskatchewan,” says Tyler Burgess, Manager of CNIB Deafblind Community Services’ Saskatchewan operations. “I know individuals who have run in marathons with an intervenor, have maintained employment, and have been able to lead rich and full lives with access to all the benefits of the community.

If you want to have all the opportunities open to you a s a Dea f blind person, you definitely need to be in a place where you have access to an intervenor. People shouldn't have to move to access these services.”

With that in mind, and with the Saskatchewan operation steadily growing, CNIB Deaf blind Community Services is hoping to expand to the rest of the country. Increasing its reach, however, will require additional funding, increased awareness, and further advocacy from dynamos like Leclair, who are often reliant on these services to be able to advocate in the first place.

“We have this expertise and we need to share it,” says Grabowski.

“We've submitted business cases for funding proposals in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, and just recently B.C. We continue to have ongoing conversations with government officials in various provinces.

We need to have models like we have in Ontario in every province of Canada.

People who are Deafblind need and deserve it.”

If you want to have all the opportunities open to you as a Deafblind person, you definitely need to be in a place where you have access to an intervenor. People shouldn't have to move to access these services.

What province you live in shouldn’t determine your independence The services provided by CNIB Deaf blind Community Services, which include literacy services and emergency services in addition to intervenors, have long been available in parts of Ontario. The organization has recognized, however, that even as it seeks to expand the availability of services within Ontario, it’s no longer tenable for this lifeline to be available only in one province.

An estimated 466,000 Canadians over the age of 15 are living with some degree of dual sensory loss, and in many parts of the country, they don’t have access to Deafblind services.

CNIB Deafblind Community Services’ recent expansion into Sas-

CNIB Deafblind Community Services thanks the Ontario Ministry of Children, Community, and Social Services; the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development; and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services.

Visit deafblind services.ca to learn more.

This article was sponsored by CNIB Deafblind Community Services.