Thursday at the Grand Sierra

By Cheryl Heppner

Editor: Here's more of Cheryl's HLAA Convention journal. Are you starting to feel like you might have actually been there?

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A Good Start

It's late Thursday evening and a few minutes ago I finished a wonderful dinner at celebrity chef Charlie Palmer's Fin Fish with Dr. Scott Bally and Dr. Janet Pray of Gallaudet University. The food was very good and the company superb. Our conversation touched on guessing the seasonings in our food, getaway places, our preferences for pillows, the best kinds of chocolate, and beyond. We pondered the ubiquitous term "rush hour" and how it can possibly be applied to Washington, DC area traffic. It never lasts only an hour, and no one can be considered rushing when their vehicle is moving like an ant in molasses.

Today is ending much better than it started. Let me count some ways.

One: A very special person received a very special award that was kept very secret. His name is Dr. Mark Ross, the award is a special, first-time Lifetime Achievement Award, and more details will be forthcoming.

Two: A replacement for my cochlear implant battery charger that fried sometime last evening is on its way and expected to arrive tomorrow. The odor from said charger cooking is fading. I have hope that I can nurse my remaining batteries until it arrives. If not, my emergency kit has one that can work with three AA batteries.

Three: As I told a number of people, I'm really begging for my daily quota of hugs here (not)! I love this conference and all the people who bring so much talent and dedication to it. This year it feels like there is a renewed sense of purpose for the HLAA mission and feeling of camaraderie.

Air Travel Horror Stories

In the days before heading to the convention -- and while waiting for my flight at BWI -- I worked on the first of several future news pieces about the Department of Transportation forum earlier this month which covered the new air travel regulations affecting deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind individuals. Although there is some good news, my one-word summary of the rules is 'disappointing.'

Here at the convention, I'm hearing new stories that illustrate the bad news. One couple had tickets to Reno that were supposed to be nonstop but weren't. When they got off the plane, they didn't realize they were in Phoenix. By the time they realized the mistake and returned to the gate, the plane had left without them. They are not the only ones who ended up in Phoenix by mistake.

Coming Soon

I spent most of my day at the exhibits, and you'll soon be reading about the interesting things I've learned there. As always, there is plenty of new technology and the promise of more on the way. Among the coolest exhibits is the Cochlear Americas "Tiki Bar" serving cookies and lemonade. Their cruise-themed space also has a putting green where folks can try their luck at winning a free iPod nano.

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