CHHA - Manitoba

First report on National Conference:  The July issue of the Sudbury Branch newsletter, Resonance, reports on the success of the national conference, held there June 3rd to 5th, 2010. 

One goal of the conference was to include music in the program, hence the conference theme, Good Vibrations. Musical performers included Rita MacNeil, Sudbury's Shaft Bottom Boys, and Jennifer Roland, a professional fiddle player and stepdancer.  Presenters included Dr. Sam Trychin who conducted a workshop on dealing with hearing loss, and the Sudbury Rising Stars, a seniors group that presents skits addressing seniors' issues, including hearing loss.  There were over 200 delegates in attendance.  Manitoba Board member Brian Gaber was there, and also reports that it was an excellent event, with lots of excellent information on many topics, including technology advances to help the hard of hearing.

Petition to bring CapTel phone service to Canada:  Click this link to download the petition - the more the merrier!  Canadian phone service providers and the CRTC need to know how important this service is to hard of hearing Canadians.

Walk-a-Thon:  The first-ever CHHA walk-a-thon takes place October 3, 2010 in Ottawa, starting at City Hall.  This is a great new way to help make a difference for a hard of hearing family member or friend.  For more information, visit http://www.chha.ca/chha/ and click on the red Walk2Hear banner near the top of the page

Canada Signs Ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.  Click here to read the Government of Canada's press release about this important step in ensuring access and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Canada.

Your Hearing is Precious - Protect it!  The following chart shows the effect of different noise levels on your hearing:

CHHA 30th Anniversary in 2012 - As part of the celebration CHHA plans to create a written document outlining the history of CHHA National, its chapters and branches. This is a big undertaking, and we need your help!

If you have early memories to share about the establishment of CHHA Manitoba Chapter, email  us at mbchha@mts.net, or telephone 204-975-3037.  If you were involved in establishing the association at the national level, contact national project coordinator Michael David at mdavid@chha.ca, telephone 613-526-4718.  We'll provide updates as additional plans evolve for this exciting celebration.

Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities:  The Canadian government tabled this important item in the House of Commons on Thursday December 3, 2009.  A press release detailing this event will be posted on the CHHA national web site soon.

Help for students: Visit the Parent Central web site to read an article about the need to provide more help to hard of hearing students

CRTC orders improved access to telecommunications services for hard of hearing.  Read CBC's July 21, 2009 report on the requirements, including for improved captioning and voice-to-text and text-to-voice Internet messaging.

Click here to read the press release CHHA National has issued in response to the CRTC's announcement.

CHHA National Advisory Committee on Science, Health and Industry:  Establishment of this committee in the spring of 2009 is an important step for CHHA.  The committee, led by Dr. André Marcoux, will provide the organization with expert advice on current issues and initiatives with respect to science, health and industry.  For more information, read the CHHA National press release.

Help from Canada Mortage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) provides assistance through its Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) in the form of a fully forgivable loan to make needed household modifications to help disabled seniors live safely and comfortably in their own homes.  CMHC also provides financial assistance through the Disabilities RRAP to help homeowners create a secondary unit in their home or property for low-income seniors or disabled adults to live independently, but close to family.  For more information click here.

Disability Tax Credit - The CHHA National Working Group on the Disability Tax Credit is looking for input from our members about both their positive and negative experiences in applying for and receiving the Disability Tax Credit.  For more details, or if you have information to share with the committee, contact working group chair, Michel David at 613-526-1584 or email him at mdavid@chha.ca.