Another Person's Perspective

Another Person's Perspective

this was written by Adreinne Levy who participated at the June 8th Pueblo Day of Giving in Pueblo Colorado. Overall what she has to say mirrors what i wrote lsat week. Thanks so much for this testimonial on behalf of the Foundation for Sight and sound.

Foundation for Sight and Sound Mission
June 8, 2010 Pueblo CO

This past Wednesday, June 8, 2010 was an especially gratifying and satisfying work day in my position as Consumer Outreach Audiologist. I had the opportunity to participate in the Foundation for Sight and Sound’s Mission in Pueblo, CO. The Foundation, founded in 2009 by Mitch Shapiro,, is designed to provide vision or hearing help for those in need. In Mitch’s words “the Foundation is there to assist those who fall through the cracks.” Those in need are identified by area physicians, local groups or churches. SCENTA physician Dr. (find name) and local dispenser, Roxann Murphy donated their services, time and office space. They were both honored by a Proclamation presented by Pueblo’s Mayor and a City Councilman who were also in attendance. To make the event a success, GNReSound donated the hearing aids, earmolds, and the Consumer Outreach Audiologist: me!
Although every recipient was grateful and excited to receive new hearing aids, three recipients stood out in terms of the significance of the gift of restored hearing. One recipient, a 13 year old girl, had a moderate unilateral loss with normal hearing in the other ear. Her parents spoke freely of their high expectations for her scholastically and the frustration with her varied performance in school. They mentioned her missing critical information and how hard it was for her to hear the teacher when the teacher’s back was turned toward the board and away from the class. Likewise at home there was additional tension because sometimes the girl would respond appropriately, and at other times not be aware of what was going on. When the Live 7 BTE hearing aid was turned on her face lit up and she just kept saying “I can hear better.” Prior to being referred to the Foundation, the parents were trying to figure out how to save for a hearing aid, and how long that might take them. A big difference was made in her and her family’s life: reduced stress at home; greater happiness, and more consistent performance in school are just some of the improvements she will experience with her new aid and better hearing.
The second person that stood out was a young man with severe-profound congenital familial hearing loss who was wearing 15 year old analog mini BTE aids (too weak) with yellowed earmolds. He also has the benefit of an assistance dog. It was a treat to program the SPARX aids and provide much needed gain. We conversed easily in more normal conversational tones which was an instant change from his old aids. His whole body relaxed and he sat back in his chair and smiled.
The third person was a woman with both reduced vision and reduced hearing. Her husband has reduced visual acuity as well so that makes for a trying situation. She simply wants to be able to participate in conversation with family and friends and to hear her audio books better. The Live 7 BTEs that she was fit with will allow her to do that.
The event was well organized with myself and another person fitting and fine-tuning the hearing aids. After being fit, the recipient then worked with a second volunteer to learn how to insert the hearing aids, change the battery and the usual daily maintenance tasks. Follow up visits were made for each person.
I was impressed with the dedication of all the volunteers and was proud to represent GN ReSound. I fully acknowledge our generosity in terms of the donated aids: except for the SPARSX wearer, I fit Live 7 series and that will make for very satisfied recipients !

It's All About People!

On Wednesday, June 8, 2011, Roxann Murphy of Southern Colorado’s Comprehensive Hearing Care. Hosted a Day of Giving for the Help America Hear Program in Pueblo Colorado. The hearing aid mission provided 12 individuals with two hearing aids each.

Assisting Roxann were Adriane Levy, GN ReSound, Eric Koval, Beltone Hearing Aid Center, Mike Trujillo, Hearing Aid Technology Center of Pueblo and Bob Blake, Affordable Hearing Care of Pueblo These Hearing Health care Professionals volunteered their time and expertise to assure that these 12 individuals were fitted properly with their new hearing aids. “It’s a day like today that makes life worthwhile,” says Roxann Murphy. I enjoy helping people.

One of the recipients, Ms Hicks was talking with Eric while he was fitting her with the hearing aids. She told Eric that she tried to pay for them but they were too expensive. Then when the hearing aides were fitted in her ears, she said, “I’m going to cry. I can’t believe I’m getting my hearing aides.”

The youngest person fitted was a 13 year old girl whose mother said, “We spent some time trying to figure a way to pay for the hearing aids over a 6 month period but we realized our budget just could not accommodate such an expense. We are always helping other people, it’s what we do in our church and we were starting to wonder if there was any way that we would ever get some help. We received a phone call that the Foundation for Sight & Sound was able to help provide hearing aids through their Help America Hear Program. We’re so grateful for this program.”

Roxann Murphy spent several month identifying, testing and preparing materials to make the Day of Giving a reality. Countless hours are spent preparing for such an event like this.

What makes doing a Day of Giving a success is the synergy created by partnerships such as with our manufacturer GN ReSound. The company donates as well as helped with reduced costs of the product for the program.

Also of great importance is the collaboration with Dr. Robert Mclean who is an ENT specialist and his staff of audiologists who were instrumental in the testing of the applicants. “It is important for all areas of the hearing healthcare profession to work together as a single unit for the better good of humankind” says Dave Carr. Dave is the co-founder of the Help America Hear Program and a third generation hearing instruments specialist

The Help America Hear Program provides high quality hearing aids to men, women & children who lack the financial capacity to obtain them on their own.

If you or someone you know is interested in hosting a Day of Giving in your community contact the Foundation for Sight & Sound at 631-366-3461 or email Mitchel Shapiro at info@foundationforsightandsound.org

Watch our blog for more on our work in the community including updates, interesting facts, motivation and more.
Respectfully,

Mitch Shapiro

HELP AMERICA HEAR PROGRAM PLANS PUEBLO COLORADO HEARING AID MISSION

Media Contacts:
Mitchel Shapiro Christopher Davies
Tel.631-366-3461 Tel 303 664-5700
Email: info@foundationforsightandsound.org Email: cdavies@winecountrynetwork.com


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HELP AMERICA HEAR PROGRAM PLANS PUEBLO COLORADO HEARING AID MISSION
Support from The 1St Annual Brewmaster Golf Classic, The Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Beer Pairing Competition and the Arapahoe Sertoma Club will benefit Pueblo area residents on June 8, 2011.

Denver, CO, May 26, 2010 - The Foundation For Sight and Sound, a 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization and their Help America Hear Program provides hearing aids to men, women and children with hearing loss, who lack the financial capacity to obtain them on their own.

The Help America Hear Program was created in January 2009 and has since fitted over 160 men, women & children nationwide with hearing aids. With the minimum cost of a hearing aid averaging $2,000, many individuals are unable to afford this necessary tool for improving their quality of life.

All proceeds from The 2011 Brewmaster Golf Classic and 100% of proceeds from the Silent & Live auctions at the 2nd Annual Taste of Elegance Chefs Food and Beer Pairing Competition will be earmarked for The Foundation for Sight and Sound and their Help America Hear Program. This not-for-profit has pledged to use these funds to directly help individuals in Colorado.

Christopher Davies, CEO of Wine Country Network, Inc., the producers of The Denver International Wine Festival said, "We are excited to support The Help America Hear Program. Mitchel Shapiro is the organization’s President & CEO who is affected by Usher syndrome, a retinal degenerative disease that is causing him to loose both his vision and hearing, is a true inspiration. It's quite fulfilling to see that local residents will receive a direct benefit from our efforts”.

PUEBLO HEARING AID MISSION
On Wednesday June 8, 2011, The Foundation For Sight & Sound’s Help America Hear Program will be fitting 12 Pueblo area residents with hearing aids provided by GN ReSound. This Hearing Aid Mission will take place at 10:00 am at the Southern Colorado Comprehensive Hearing Care, Park West Medical Center 3676 Parker Blvd., Ste. 320. Pueblo, CO 81008.

For more information visit: www.Foundationforsightandsound.org
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MEDIA COVERAGE OPPORTUNITIES:

We encourage media to attend the Pueblo Hear Aid Mission on Wednesday June 8, 2011, 10:00am, Southern Colorado Comprehensive Hearing Care, 3676 Parker Blvd. Ste. 320. Pueblo, CO 81008

National Contact:
Mitch Shapiro
Tel 631 366-3461 or Cell 516-297-0872
Email: info@foundationforsightandsound.org

Colorado Media Contact:
Christopher Davies
Tel 303 664-5700
Email: cdavies@winecountrynetwork.com

TV APPEARANCES & RADIO INTERVIEWS
Mr. Mitch Shapiro, President & CEO of The Foundation for Sight and Sound is a seasoned guest and motivational speaker. Please consider inviting him on your show during his visit to Pueblo & Denver. Mr. Shapiro will be in Colorado, June 4 to 9, 2011.

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR SIGHT & SOUND
The Foundation for Sight & Sound turns dreams into possibilities by helping those with vision and/or hearing loss to learn, live, and work better.

The Foundation for Sight and Sound has developed the Help America Hear Program to provide hearing aids for men, women and children with limited financial resources. In most states, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover these costs and many insurance providers do not offer full medical coverage.

The manufacturer suggested retail cost averages from $2,000 to $4,000 per hearing aid. With this program, each person receives: two hearing aids, custom ear molds and one year limited service.

Help America Hear is sponsored by the generosity of hearing health care providers, corporate and private donors, and our partnering hearing aid manufacture GN ReSound. Foundationforsightandsound.org

Sight & Sound Update

Hello

What a great start for The Foundation For Sight & Sound this year! Just like the weather so many things keep changing, especially sunshine and warm smiles on the faces of individuals through the work we do.

Through our lead program, Help America Hear, we have fit over 160 men, women & children since January 2009 with hearing aids. Please check out the testimonials and how it has changed liveswww.foundationforsightandsound.org/testimonials.html

The success of this program has been made possible by the many Hearing Health Care Professionals, our Manufacturer partner GN ReSound and of course YOU the Donor.

Your support of our Events helps us continue providing hearing aids to individuals in need. Please check out each of our upcoming events listed below or by going to wwww.foundationforsightandsound.org/events.html Perhaps you or someone you know will attend, sponsor or simply make a contribution.

I personally thank you in advance for all the support you provide.

With heartfelt thanks,
Mitchel Shapiro
President/CEO
Foundation For Sight & Sound

EVENTS

Monday, June 6th Brewmaster Golf Classic at the Omni Interlockin Resorts. Broomfield Colorado **there is still room for more golfers!

Tuesday, June 7th Taste of Elegance Beer & Chefs Competition, Omni Interlockin Resorts, Broomfield Colorado

Saturday, June 11th Over the Edge H. Lee Denison Building Hauppauge NY **Mitch is Rappelling down a 12 Story building!! Sponsor this endeavor

Monday, July 25th 2nd Annual Golf Classic Sands Point Golf Club, Sands Point NY

Thursday, August 24th Family & Friends Summer Bash Crest Hollow Country Club, Woodbury NY

Please forward this to your friends, family and business associates!

Sights & Sounds!

I admit it’s been quite some time since I’ve put anything on the blog. There is so much to do in the fundraising world, adding to facebook, LinkedIn, doing events etc., the blog just simply slipped my mind!

The Foundation For Sight & Sound has been quite busy lately with several fundraising events as well as Hearing Aid Missions. We are scheduled to fit 12 men, women & children in Pueblo Colorado on June 8th and 20 At Montefirore Hospital in the Bronx NY . by the time we finish the missions we will have fit over 180 men, women & children with hearing aids.

The Foundation is grateful to our manufacturer GN ReSound which provides us with high quality hearing aids for the Help America Hear Program.

This is a wonderful accomplishment as the Help America Hear Program was initiated in January 2009. We receive on average 5-10 requests a day for applications. As the program has grown we introduced Tier 2 for the gross household income bracket up to $35,000.

The Foundation for Sight & Sound is also providing our first library with an Inductive Loop System which will allow hearing aid & cochlear implant users to participate in a more efficient manner during many of the seminars and workshops held at the library.

Also of interest we are part of the Usher III Research Initiative. We are helping to raise funds for this sight & hearing stealing disease.

We at the foundation are excited with all these developments and hope you will find it in your heart to participate with us in our journey to make a true difference in the quality of life for individuals with vision and/or hearing challenges..

I promise to write a bit more on the blog!

Sensitivity in Communication

Sensitivity in Communication


Communication is the most important way we deal with other individuals. All species, including humans, communicate using a combination of verbal and non-verbal skills. In the best of circumstances there may be misunderstandings based upon the way a person interprets what and how something is said to them.

When interacting with people who have physical challenges the experience can become more complicated. Regardless of whether or not someone has all their senses, much of what is expressed here applies to everyone. Here are some examples that are specific to the visual and hearing challenged communities.

Let’s pretend we are giving directions to a visually challenged person. It is important to be specific about what you are saying. You will be giving them recognizable landmarks and measurable distances. We have all heard the direction “go that way”. Well, which way is that way? The visually challenged person can’t see which way you are pointing. Even something as simple as giving directions takes patience and understanding of a person’s requirements. A solution here is to identify the direction using a clock system, for example, it’s at 3 o’clock from where they are facing, and it’s a 10 minute walk. Being specific will alleviate the stress and uncomfortable feelings for both parties.

A person who is hard of hearing (HOH) presents a different set of challenges. This individual relies on hearing devices to identify sounds and words. The general misconception amongst hearing enabled persons is that someone who is hard of hearing and asks for a clarification cannot hear at all. The truth of the matter is that a person may recognize sounds but not actual words. The environment may have been noisy. When there is excess background noise and one wears a hearing aid, the noise overpowers the sounds of the person speaking. The speaker may have been mumbling or covering their face with hands blocking the passage of sounds. This is really a simple case of not being able to understand what a person is saying rather than not being able to hear.

Proper communication practices mean clear enunciation, steady pace, and simple words. Many words have the same sounds when spoken; any person can mistake one word for another that sounds alike.

Here are features of verbal and non verbal communication to be aware of:

Verbal Non Verbal (Body Language)

Tone of Voice Facial Expressions
Speed of Speech Showing Annoyance
Clearness of Speech Hand Movement
Pronunciation of Words Lip Movement
Volume of Sounds Head Shaking
Too loud/ Too Low Staring Eyes
Mumbling Diverting Eyes

Giving & Recieving

This is the time of the year when all of us think about giving and receiving. Although I firmly believe it is better to give then to receive, many people are the recipients of gifts they least expect.

Giving comes in all shapes and sizes, sometimes it’s financial sometimes it is something of material or tangible goods. The most favorite time is when a child opens a wrapped present presumably left by Santa under a tree in their warm comfortable home. This isn’t always the case for many individuals. There are a tremendous number of people who are homeless, sitting in hospitals or simply just don’t have the means to purchase necessities to have a better quality of life. This group includes people who can’t afford hearing aids or eyeglasses, not to disregard people who need other items such as clothes, food, wheelchairs, walkers or even prosthesis.

When it comes to receiving gifts, I have found the best gifts I continue to receive are letters or phone calls to say thank you for making a difference in a person’s life. Giving the gift of hearing by donating hearing aids or having someone fit with a new pair of eye glasses. It’s touching & rewarding when you know a child can hear their parents or fit in socially with friends. It’s also wonderful when grandparents who have reached the golden age and are losing their hearing are able to have conversations due to a gift of hearing aids. Not to forget all men, women & children who benefit from gifts of necessities which will help them in every facet of life especially work & social activities.

As you this question, what is important to you if you were in dire straits and didn’t have the tools needed to function in society. What becomes important to you at this juncture?

Ask yourself “What have I given of myself to make the world and my home a better place”. Do the materialistic goods create a life enhancing experience to the receiver which will greatly impact the quality of life? Have you recently sorted through your old clothes or other items from your home or business and donated it to a worthy cause?

It is time to take inventory of every area of our lives, discarding items that simply collect dust. It is time to clean house!

I close this note knowing I have done my part to share, give and receive in many ways where there is someone whose life has been impacted. Bring on the New Year with new beginnings!!!