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Lions and Hearing Awareness

How You Can Help

You can take an active role in hearing awareness by promoting hearing loss prevention and providing support for the deaf or hearing impaired. Here are some ways you can help.

Chairpersons

Lion clubs appoint one member to serve as their Hearing Preservation, Awareness and Action chairperson. The council chairperson and district governor appoint a multiple district and district Hearing Preservation, Awareness and Action chairperson, respectively.

Club, district and multiple district-level chairpersons develop service projects which aid persons who are deaf or hard of hearing. Before implementing a hearing service project, it is suggested that Lions contact local government and private agencies (including Lions hearing foundations) for the deaf or hard of hearing. This can eliminate the duplication of services. In addition, local agencies that have ongoing projects may be in need of additional assistance.

Hearing Awareness

You can help educate the public about hearing impairments and prevention of hearing loss:

Participate in health fairs and distribute information about deafness, hearing impairment and hearing loss prevention.

Compile a list of local resources including the names of healthcare professionals for diagnosing hearing loss; the names of vendors for the purchase of new or used hearing devices; and vocational training programs.

Create public awareness of noise levels and support noise abatement efforts.

Donate books and other educational materials about deafness and hearing impairment to the local library.

Determine the availability of a Lions district or multiple district hearing van and organize a hearing screening.

Support recreational camps for children and adults who are deaf or hearing impaired. For information, refer to the list of special needs camps.

Get involved in the Lions Hearing Aid Recycling Program.

Examples of Lions Hearing Awareness Projects

The Lions of Multiple District 105 (British Isles and Ireland), created the "Deaf Aware" program to promote and encourage better communication with the hearing impaired. The Lions also distribute safety door hangers for hotels and guest houses, which are designed to assist those with disabilities in an emergency.

In India, the Lions of District 324-D3 produced pamphlets in regional languages explaining deafness, possible treatments, and job training opportunities.

The Lions of District 35 (Florida, USA) worked with government officials for the passage of a new state law requiring hearing screenings for newborn babies.

Lions in Missouri, USA, sponsored billboards that informed the public about hearing and deafness.

In Alberta, Canada, the hearing chairman for Lions District 37-E, used puppets, coloring books, audiotapes, and videotapes to teach children about hearing loss.