Children, Seniors and Social Development
May 4, 2017
Minister Gambin-Walsh Signs Proclamation to Recognize Better Hearing and Speech Month
Today, the Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh, Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities, was joined by members of the local chapter of the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association for the signing of a proclamation acknowledging May as Better Hearing and Speech Month in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Better Hearing and Speech Month aims to raise public awareness about communication health and highlights the importance of early detection and intervention in the treatment of communication disabilities, such as hearing loss and speech-language disabilities.
Recently, the Provincial Government was awarded the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association � Newfoundland and Labrador�s (CHHA-NL) Community Accessibility Award for the Provincial Fire Alert Program, which improves safety in homes of people who are Deaf or hard of hearing. This award highlights government�s contribution towards advocacy, accessibility, awareness and hearing conservation.
Government is committed and continues to work with stakeholders, community groups and individuals to remove barriers to opportunities and services.
Quotes
�Too often we take the ability to hear for granted. The fastest growing demographic of people experiencing hearing loss today is young people. This is due to noise induced hearing loss, which is preventable. During Better Hearing and Speech Month I encourage you to think about ways to protect your hearing. Congratulations to the Canadian Hard of Hearing Association for their education campaigns and the support they offer people throughout the year.�
Honourable Sherry Gambin-Walsh
Minister Responsible for the Status of Persons with Disabilities
�Communication disabilities, such as hearing loss and speech-language disabilities, affect thousands of people in our province. Better Hearing and Speech month aims to increase awareness, but also educate about hearing loss prevention as well as the programs and services offered to promote a better quality of life for hard of hearing and late deafened people.�
Leon Mills
Executive Director, Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Newfoundland and Labrador
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Learn More
Disability Policy Office
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association
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Media contact
Krista Dalton
Children, Seniors and Social Development
709-729-3768, 685-6492
kristadalton@gov.nl.ca
Leon Mills, Executive Director
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association Newfoundland and Labrador
709-753-3224
lmills@chha-nl.ca
2017 05 10 11:10 a.m.