Canadian Hard of Hearing Association

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
Name	Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
Formation	1978
Type	Non-profit organization
Headquarters	Ottawa, Ontario
Region served	Canada
Membership	Individuals with hearing loss

Canadian Hard of Hearing Association is a national advocacy and service organization for adults who are hard of hearing, founded to provide peer support, information, and policy engagement. It connects consumers, clinicians, and institutions across provinces and territories to improve access to assistive technology, audiological care, and communication rights. The association operates alongside disability organizations, consumer groups, and research institutions to influence legislation and public awareness.

History

The organization traces roots to grassroots initiatives in the late 1970s alongside movements such as the Canadian National Institute for the Blind expansions and disability rights actions influenced by events like the Manitoba March of Dimes campaigns and international developments including the United Nations International Year of Disabled Persons. Early collaboration involved professionals from University of Toronto, McGill University, and community agencies in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia, with input from clinicians associated with institutions like Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and Toronto General Hospital. Over decades the association engaged with federal policy milestones such as consultations around the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms implementation, provincial health commissions, and national standards bodies similar to Standards Council of Canada. Influences included advocacy by groups like Canadian National Institute for the Blind, disability coalitions involved in the development of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and international exchanges with organizations such as Hearing Loss Association of America and European counterparts.

Mission and Services

The association states goals emphasizing communication access, peer support, and evidence-based information, aligning with organizations like Health Canada initiatives and academic partners at McMaster University and University of British Columbia. Services include information referral comparable to models used by Canadian Cancer Society, telecommunication access guidance linked to standards from Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, and training similar to programs at Centre for Addiction and Mental Health for frontline staff. It provides resources on hearing technologies including cochlear implant programming discussed at conferences like Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists meetings and guidance tied to device approvals by Medical Devices Bureau.

Advocacy and Policy

Advocacy efforts have addressed legislation and regulatory frameworks, engaging with bodies such as Parliament of Canada committees, provincial legislatures, and quasi-judicial forums like Canadian Human Rights Commission. The association has submitted positions on policy instruments comparable to consultations by Employment and Social Development Canada and has lobbied for accessibility measures reflected in laws like the Accessible Canada Act and provincial statutes modeled after Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. It collaborates with disability coalitions that have worked with allies like Canadian Association of the Deaf, Council of Canadians with Disabilities, and international networks including World Health Organization initiatives on hearing loss.

Programs and Outreach

Programs include peer support groups resembling models from Alzheimer Society of Canada, public-awareness campaigns akin to those by Canadian Red Cross, and professional development workshops similar to offerings by Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Outreach utilizes media channels such as partnerships with CBC Television, community events tied to festivals in cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto, and participation at conferences such as the Canadian Conference on Health Communication and Marketing. Training for workplace accommodation echoes resources from Canadian Labour Congress and employer guides similar to materials from Business Council of Canada.

Structure and Governance

The organization is governed by a volunteer board with bylaws and membership rules often informed by nonprofit governance practices exemplified by entities like Imagine Canada and provincial registries such as Ontario Ministry of Government and Consumer Services. Operational leadership typically includes an executive director and regional coordinators who liaise with provincial partners including agencies in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. It engages advisors from academic centres such as Institut universitaire en santé mentale de Montréal and healthcare providers at institutions like St. Michael's Hospital.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships span public agencies, philanthropic foundations, and corporate donors comparable to supporters of health charities including Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and technology companies in the assistive device sector. Collaborative research and program delivery have involved universities including Queen's University and Dalhousie University, health authorities like Alberta Health Services, and national networks such as Canadian Network for Respiratory Care for cross-disability initiatives. Fiscal sustainability models reflect grants from provincial ministries, project funding aligned with Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council priorities, and fundraising approaches used by national charities.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Canada Category:Disability organizations based in Canada