CART services will be provided.

Our final meeting of the year will feature a doubleheader of interest to all our members on our rights to assistance to level the playing field and on assistance dogs.

First, Jonathan O’Dell, Director of CATTS (Communication Access, Training and Technology Services) at the Mass Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, will speak about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and how it applies to people with hearing loss. In particular, he will discuss the recently implemented Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), as well as the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act to provide internet and technology access to all, and our own Massachusetts accessibility law.

Our second speaker will be Gerry DeRoche, CEO of NEADS (Dogs For Deaf and Disabled Americans). NEADS was established back in 1976 when the bright students of Holliston Jr. College in Lenox, tested and confirmed that dogs could be trained to become “ears” for the deaf and hard of hearing. Imagine you are hard of hearing and – through the help of your canine assistant – you are now able to wake up at the sound of your alarm through a gentle nudge of a dog, be warned when a smoke alarm is set off, or have your attention caught when the doorbell rings or your name is called. With these goals in mind, NEADS spent the next 11 years training more than 400 dog teams, and soon began expanding its service to include training dogs for individuals with physical disabilities, including our disabled veterans.

If you have an assistance dog or have had an assistance dog or raised an assistance puppy and are willing to speak about the experience to our members at our 1 May meeting, please email Terri Charles at terri_charles@verizon.net. We would love to have people bring their assistance dog to show and discuss.

Child care will be provided for children age 18 months and up. Graduate students in communication disorders will guide the children’s play, and will come into the meeting room to call a parent if a special cuddle or a diaper change is needed. Juice and snacks will be provided for the children.

As always, our meeting is held at Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham, in the Deveber Conference room, 9 Hope Avenue, Waltham, MA. Directions to the meeting are below.

Directions:

Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham
9 Hope Avenue
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone: 781-216-2100

After going in the main entrance, walk straight past the reception desk and turn right.  Go down the hall and turn right at the sign that says Conference Center. Go down that hallway and turn left just before the sign that says Medical Office Building.  Then you will have arrived at the Flaschner Conference Rooms!

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) Eastbound

Take exit 14 for I-95/Route 128. After the toll, keep left for 95/128 North. While on ramp, exit immediately onto exit 24 for Route 30. Bear left onto Route 30. Turn right at first traffic light onto River Road. Follow this for 1.5 miles, where it turns into South Street. Go past Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90) Westbound

Take exit 15 for I-95/Route 128 and Route 30. After the toll proceed straight for Route 30. Turn right at end of the ramp, and then right again at first traffic light onto Route 30. Turn left at next traffic light onto River Road. Follow this for 1.5 miles, where it turns into South Street. Go past Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From I-95/Route 128 Southbound

Take exit 24 for Route 30. At end of ramp, proceed through traffic light (across Route 30). This is River Road (River Road becomes South Street). Go past Brandeis University, which is two miles ahead. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.

From I-95/Route 128 Northbound

Take exit 24 for Route 30. Route 30 is one of several options at this exit, so follow signs carefully. Turn left at the top of the ramp onto Route 30. Turn right at the traffic lights. This is South Street, travel two miles and pass Brandeis University. Continue about 1/4 mile and take a right on Longview Avenue. Follow signs, bearing left around parking garage, to entrance for Children’s Hospital Boston at Waltham.