HLAA Advocacy Awards:
Vic Krause, David Branfield, and Jim Grennan
Here's something special, the text of the Hearing Loss Association of
America (HLAA) Advocacy Award presentations to Vic Krause, David Branfield
and Jim Grennan. We thank David Crocker, a member of the HLAA Board, for
providing it. -- Cheryl Heppner
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
HLAA Advocacy Award
This award recognizes the outstanding efforts of individuals and groups
in HLA that have accomplished significant results in advocacy before
local, state, and national decision makers.
Vic Krause
Vic Krause, of Grand Rapids Michigan proves just how a dedicated and
savvy hard of hearing person can help bring about real change in today's
political climate. Vic is a founder of the Grand Rapids, Michigan chapter,
serving as its first leader, and has also been elected to the Michigan HLA-MI
Board of Trustees. But fifteen years ago, he served in the Michigan House
of Representatives, and after retiring from that, was introduced to, and
became involved with the Michigan SHHH organization.
Using his experience as a politician, he began organizing an event
known as the, "Day at the State Capitol' which held its inaugural event in
May 2006. He found current members of the House and Senate to sponsor the
event, as well as a resolution to proclaim May as Hearing Loss Awareness
month in Michigan. Vic networked with organizations to include them in
organizing this event, and recruited as partners: the Division of Deaf and
hard of Hearing, the Michigan Association for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing, the Michigan Academy of Audiology, and the Michigan Deaf
Association. The Day at the State Capitol is recognized statewide as a
consumer driven advocacy event that effectively educates legislators about
the issues facing hard of hearing people.
The event consists of presentations by legislators, observation of
House and Senate sessions, and arranges meetings of participants with
legislators about important issues. The organizing committee completes the
issue fact sheets, which in 2006 included:
• Insurance coverage for hearing aids and assistive devices.
• Hearing aid tax credits for seniors and children.
• Medicaid funding.
• Mandatory hearing screening for seniors entering nursing homes.
• Statewide emergency notification procedures for people with hearing
loss.
• Enforcement of civil rights laws and public accommodations requirements.
• Deaf Child Bill of Rights and ASL/English philosophy.
Fact sheets for 2007 have been complied, for all legislators; these
sheets provide information and statistics, and call for action.
Vic has been able to get an interpreter on the floor of the House (for
the first time in its history) and is seeking captioning for the 2007
event. The event is completely accessible in the galleries, and in
presentations, utilizing FM and loop systems. Vic tirelessly advocates for
the installation of permanent loop systems in both houses.
He has made presentations to nearly every HLA chapter in Michigan to
promote the 2007 Day at the State Capitol, and helped create broad based
popular support. Of the 175 people attending the DASC 2006, about 30
identified themselves as deaf.
In 2006, Vic convinced Representative Kooiman (sponsor of the 2006 DASC)
to introduce a resolution in support of HR 414, the Hearing Aid Assistance
Tax Credit Act in the United States Congress. Hearings were held by the
Michigan House Tax Policy Committee which favorably (and unanimously)
reported the bill to the full House. The House, in turn sent the
resolution to the state Senate President, the Speaker of the US House of
Representatives, and to all the Michigan delegation.
Vic is well known and highly respected among political leaders in
Michigan, and his advocacy continues to be noteworthy. He is gearing up to
face opposition to insurance legislation, and his leadership of Michigan
advocates has created a strong organization that will move to accomplish
legislative goals and nurture HLA_MI leaders. He generously gives of
himself, and his experience, and serves as a role model for all of us...
David Branfield
David Branfield is committed to the vision of Rocky Stone, to advocate
on behalf of people with hearing loss, and to educate and to inform. He
currently serves as Chair of the Captioned Telephone Advocacy Committee of
HLA-NYS, and helped make the service available to hard of hearing people
through his advocacy efforts with the New York State Public Service
Commission.
In October 2004, David was introduced to the CapTel phone service,
which was not then available in New York, and he asked himself why? So the
following January, in the HLA-NYS Board meeting, David proposed an ad-hoc
committee to bring the service to New York. He spearheaded the project
with determination and perseverance, and brought in many people across the
state. David made presentations to many groups, speaking to Lion's Clubs,
Independent Living centers, Senior Nutrition Centers, Cochlear Implant
Clubs, as well as to HLA chapters. David was prepared to speak to anyone
who would set up a dais.
David wrote articles on captioned telephone service for the HLA-NYS
Reporter, for their web page, for various newsletters, and for an issue of
the Hearing Loss Journal. David arranged with Ultratec to mail CapTel
videos to anyone who requested material. Throughout the advocacy process,
he communicated with chapters and individuals to keep them apprised of the
latest developments, and motivating them to become involved.
The NYS Public Service Commission was the agency that needed to be
convinced to sanction the CapTel, and David drafted a letter to the PSC,
requesting a meeting with the staff. He made a strong presentation at the
meeting in November 2005, providing the relevant information, and speaking
with passion and conviction. Then in January 2006, he met with the PSC
director, who promised to consider the matter, but said they needed time.
It was also at this meeting that David requested CART, and the PSC members
saw it in action for the first time. So in May of 2006, the PSC formally
requested public comments, and David went into action, coordinating a
letter writing campaign that waged until the PSC finally said enough,
"Please...no more letters. We hear you."
The CapTel service was formally approved by the PSC in July 2006,
approving the largest quota of phones (over three hundred) of any state at
the time. David continues to be a source of accurate information about
captioned telephone service, sharing with all who inquire. He participated
in a chat forum sponsored by HLA in January 2007 generating interest in
other states. Grateful letters and emails from advocates across the
country confirm that his service is making a difference. He continues to
answer questions, trouble shoot problems, and convince others to use the
service that he has worked so hard to bring to people who need telephone
captioning. David shares the credit with the HLA-NTYS Board, chapter
members and many others, but he deserves the recognition of his tireless
advocacy.
Jim Grennan
Jim Grennan has written that," An advocate is an activist, believer,
and supporter, and each of us must advocate for devices to assist us to
hear." When he attended the grand opening of the new Metropolitan Library
in Oklahoma City, he asked a tour guide what assistive devices were
available for hard of hearing people, and upon learning that there were
none he promptly formally requested communications accessibility. Shortly
thereafter, a new infra-red system was installed. Jim wrote that, "it
wasn't that the library didn't want to furnish assistance as required by
the ADA, such was just overlooked in construction."
Jim is a retired attorney, who closed his practice in 1999, after 29
years of representing individuals with disabilities in cases involving
work, accidents and those seeking Social Security benefits. Jim chaired
the Okalahoma Bar Association committee on making county courthouses
accessible for people with disabilities. If a hard of hearing person is a
witness or party to a legal proceeding, assistance must be provided if
needed.
He has worked with the Social Security Administration to spur them to
comply with regulations requiring communications access during
administrative hearings for people who need it. As a result of his
activities, he was given a letter from the Social Security Administration
stating that CART will be provided when needed to help participants
understand the proceedings. Now the various Social Security offices
display a poster that states if one needs and interpreter for any
language, including sign language, such will be provided upon requests.
Jim is now working on them to expand that definition to include assistive
systems such as loops, infra-red, and CART.
Jim wrote that, "The deaf advocate well for the deaf, and we that are
hard of hearing must advocate for the assistance that we need," and he is
being recognized today for his efforts, persistence and for the way that
he has incorporated the philosophy of self help into his life.
~~~~~
(c)2007 by Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of
Hearing Persons (NVRC), 3951 Pender Drive, Suite 130, Fairfax, VA 22030;
www.nvrc.org. 703-352-9055 V, 703-352-9056 TTY, 703-352-9058 Fax. You do
not need permission to share this information, but please be sure to
credit NVRC.
