By Phil Aiello, DSA President • New Horizons Summer 2024
View the main vlog and the vlog update
Older Americans Act Webinar
The DSA 2024 Webinar Series, open to all interested individuals, is made possible by the generous support of the Laurence W. Levine Foundation and technical assistance from ZP Better Together. The first installment of the series, on the Older Americans Act (OAA), took place via Zoom on June 4, 2024 with more than 430 registered participants.
I had the privilege of introducing Sherri Collins from the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ACDHH), Annmarie Killian from TDIforAccess (TDI), and Jacob Salem from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). Each panelist delivered insightful presentations on the OAA and its importance to Deaf seniors.
Due to an unforeseen technical issue, the OAA webinar video is unavailable. Visit the Latest News section on the DSA website to view the transcript and presentation slides.
Deaf Senior Housing will be the focus of the next installment in the series, scheduled for September 2024. We will announce the date/time via email and on the DSA website.
AARP and the OAA
In collaboration with AARP’s Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (ODEI), DSA met with AARP’s Legislative Affairs team in June to discuss the Older Americans Act (OAA) and its impact on the Deaf senior community. DSA submitted proposed language for inclusion in the OAA, with support from ACDHH, TDI, and NAD.
After extensive discussion, the Legislative Affairs team agreed to investigate our proposal further and will report their findings. We have since received a positive response, and the team is currently engaging with Capitol Hill representatives. We will keep you updated on our progress.
NAD 2024 Conference
Five DSA delegates—President Phil Aiello, Vice President Char Parsley, Board Members Robyn Miller and Jerry Nelson, and Past President Al Sonnenstrahl—took part in business meetings at the 57th Biennial National Association of the Deaf (NAD) Conference, held July 1–7, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. A significant outcome was the identification of Deaf Senior Citizens Issues as one of the top five priorities for the next two years. The NAD has pledged to work closely with DSA leadership to address these issues.
DSA was honored to receive the NAD Affiliate Award in recognition of its collaborative efforts and the launch of its new website, which features essential resources for seniors. The DSA exhibit attracted a steady stream of visitors—many became new members and purchased early bird registrations.
DSA 2025 Conference
We have received inquiries regarding the change of the DSA 2025 Conference dates to August. When the DSA Board met at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown hotel last April, we conducted a walkthrough of their historic Muehlebach Tower and discovered it did not meet our conference’s accessibility requirements. We requested to host the conference in their main Marriott Tower, which fully meets our accessibility needs. This more modern tower was available, allowing us to reschedule the conference to August 1–7, 2025.
The DSA Board extended the early bird combo registration rate of $400 for the DSA 2025 Conference until September 30, 2024. After this date, the rate will increase to $450. The combo rate covers most conference activities, excluding special events and luncheons.
Lorrie Shank’s DSA 2025 Update in Latest News on the DSA website covers plans for additional pre-conference tours, the downtown RideKC Streetcar, and more.
Attendees can now book their guest room reservations directly with the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Missouri. Go to the 2025 Conference tab on the DSA website for the booking link, where you can also view the tentative conference schedule. Important Addendum: Do not call the hotel to reserve your room until after mid-September. View Phil's vlog update on conference lodging, dates, and reservations.
Details regarding sponsorship, advertising, and exhibit opportunities are now available. DSA invites companies, organizations, and individuals to showcase their products and services. DSA is also accepting proposals for workshop presentations, to share expertise and engage with attendees. For specifics, visit the 2025 Conference tab on the DSA website to learn more about these opportunities.
Trademark Approval
The DSA name has been officially registered and we have now received trademark certification from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
The top portion of the certificate is shown here; it wraps up a lengthy four-year process. Why did DSA pursue trademark registration? An organization was using our name, deafseniorsofamerica.org, to sell hearing aids. To address this issue, we were advised to secure our trademark before taking legal action. The next step is to reclaim deafseniorsofamerica.org and restore it as our rightful domain.
ALDA Convention
The Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) will host its 35th Annual International Convention from September 11–15, 2024, in Clearwater Beach, FL. I am honored to be the plenary keynote speaker, presenting on “Strong Connections: How DSA Fosters Networking and Participation, Benefits for ALDA Members.” Additionally, DSA will have a booth in their exhibit area.
New Horizons Update
We’ve made some changes to our distribution plans. DSA members will receive the Summer 2024 New Horizons in two formats: a print edition sent via postal mail and a digital edition accessible through an emailed link. Due to rising printing and postage costs, the print edition will be reduced to a smaller format. We are currently exploring various print options to adapt to these changes.
The digital edition provides several advantages:
Expanded Content: Access more content, interactive links, and videos than print.
Accessibility: Read on any device—phone, tablet, or computer—at your convenience.
Eco-friendly: Help reduce paper waste and support sustainability.
You don’t need to take any action to continue receiving the digital edition; you are already enrolled. We will keep you informed regarding future print edition plans via via email and on the DSA website.
Connect With Us
The DSA Board welcomes your ideas, concerns, queries, and suggestions. Your feedback is important to us and highly valued. Feel free to reach out to us via email. In closing, we wish you a wonderful and safe end to the summer season. May you enjoy continued well-being and safety.