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Beloit Daily News - your source for news, entertainment, sports, opinion, events, community, shopping and more > News > Local News
They may have lost their hearing, but they’ve found a new family.
The Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) has opened its first chapter in Wisconsin thanks to Beloit’s Jessica Congdon.
A year after seeking other deaf and hard of hearing friends, the group of 10 became official on Saturday. With the holidays around the corner, Congdon said it’s more important than ever that late deafened adults get the support they need.
“People can feel alone and isolated and like no one understands,” Congdon said.
ALDA acts as a support group for late deafened or hard of hearing adults, and provides opportunities for socialization and advocacy. Although those born deaf are raised learning sign language and part of a strong deaf culture, people who lose their hearing later in life, often older adults, don’t know where to turn.
“You don’t know where to go, or how to communicate,” Congdon said.
Congdon lost her hearing three years ago at age 29 because of a bone disease. Although her grandmother, Lesetta Thompson, is deaf and her mother, sister and brother are hard of hearing, Congdon was surprised she became completely deaf so early in life. She worried about caring for her young daughter, learning to communicate with her husband and keeping her job.
Once her hearing disappeared, Congdon had to learn to use sign language, read lips and implement assisting technologies. Congdon who was shy most of her life, had to become aggressive in making sure she could communicate with others.
Although she was able to stay employed at Community Action daycare at Beloit College, she learned that some late deafened adults aren’t as lucky and have to go on disability.
After meeting other adults struggling as they lost their hearing, Congdon wanted to help and start an ALDA chapter. She knew that losing any amount of hearing is a hurdle that takes time and patience to deal with. The motto of the ALDA Southern Wisconsin Group would be “whatever works.”
At Saturday’s meeting Congdon said that group members discussed how to deal with family during the holidays. They can be a stressful time because the difficulty in trying to read lips at big gatherings or communicating with new family members. Although the hearing impaired may be tempted to retreat socially, Congdon said she encourages them to pick one person to have a conversation with.
It can also be challenging navigating the crowded shopping centers during the holidays. If a clerk or someone behind her in line says something, Congdon won’t hear it.
But learning to navigate social situations is only the beginning of the group’s purpose. Congdon is hoping to bring much needed education and awareness to the Southern Wisconsin area. She recently spoke in front of the Beloit Noon Lions Club about what people can do to be more helpful to the deaf or hard of hearing, and hopes to keep spreading her message.
“Be patient, not everyone hears,” Congdon said.
Losing her hearing later in life, Congdon doesn’t want to leave the hearing world behind. With education and much needed technologies and assistance, Congdon believes that late deafened adults can live successfully in both worlds.
On behalf of ALDA, Congdon is advocating to get captions on movies in local movie theaters, and pushing for sign language interpreters and captioning services at plays or productions. The challenge is that the services often have a price-tag, which is why Congdon hopes to pursue some fundraising opportunities and partner with other community organizations.
One important partnership would be with the Rock County Job Center, so people who may have difficulties finding work or dealing with hearing loss can get information from ALDA. Another need is for the proper education of counselors and medical personnel.
Congdon never forgets when her doctor simply told her to learn sign language when she was diagnosed with hearing loss. Congdon said losing one’s hearing is much more complex than simply learning sign language, and the recently deafened need appropriate support.
Congdon has learned a lot during the past three years. She’s had to learn to use a bed shaking alarm clock, and has owned three different phones in the past three years - a video, TTY and caption phone. She’s had to work with her employer to make sure she can do her job, and learn new ways of communicating with her family. She’s had to push herself to be more social and to try to see the positives in her situation, joking she doesn’t have to hear kids screaming at work or when they open their Christmas presents at family gatherings.
Her journey has been a life changing event and she hopes she can make it a little smoother for others. She said losing her hearing is something she’ll never like, but has learned to accept it and adapt it to her life.
ALDA has been meeting the third Saturday of each month in the United Way Building, 205 S. Main St., Janesville. For more information e-mail Congdon at mjcongdon@sbcglobal.net
They may have lost their hearing, but they’ve found a new family.
The Association of Late Deafened Adults (ALDA) has opened its first chapter in Wisconsin thanks to Beloit’s Jessica Congdon.
A year after seeking other deaf and hard of hearing friends, the group of 10 became official on Saturday. With the holidays around the corner, Congdon said it’s more important than ever that late deafened adults get the support they need.
“People can feel alone and isolated and like no one understands,” Congdon said.
ALDA acts as a support group for late deafened or hard of hearing adults, and provides opportunities for socialization and advocacy. Although those born deaf are raised learning sign language and part of a strong deaf culture, people who lose their hearing later in life, often older adults, don’t know where to turn.
“You don’t know where to go, or how to communicate,” Congdon said.
Congdon lost her hearing three years ago at age 29 because of a bone disease. Although her grandmother, Lesetta Thompson, is deaf and her mother, sister and brother are hard of hearing, Congdon was surprised she became completely deaf so early in life. She worried about caring for her young daughter, learning to communicate with her husband and keeping her job.
Once her hearing disappeared, Congdon had to learn to use sign language, read lips and implement assisting technologies. Congdon who was shy most of her life, had to become aggressive in making sure she could communicate with others.
Although she was able to stay employed at Community Action daycare at Beloit College, she learned that some late deafened adults aren’t as lucky and have to go on disability.
After meeting other adults struggling as they lost their hearing, Congdon wanted to help and start an ALDA chapter. She knew that losing any amount of hearing is a hurdle that takes time and patience to deal with. The motto of the ALDA Southern Wisconsin Group would be “whatever works.”
At Saturday’s meeting Congdon said that group members discussed how to deal with family during the holidays. They can be a stressful time because the difficulty in trying to read lips at big gatherings or communicating with new family members. Although the hearing impaired may be tempted to retreat socially, Congdon said she encourages them to pick one person to have a conversation with.
It can also be challenging navigating the crowded shopping centers during the holidays. If a clerk or someone behind her in line says something, Congdon won’t hear it.
But learning to navigate social situations is only the beginning of the group’s purpose. Congdon is hoping to bring much needed education and awareness to the Southern Wisconsin area. She recently spoke in front of the Beloit Noon Lions Club about what people can do to be more helpful to the deaf or hard of hearing, and hopes to keep spreading her message.
“Be patient, not everyone hears,” Congdon said.
Losing her hearing later in life, Congdon doesn’t want to leave the hearing world behind. With education and much needed technologies and assistance, Congdon believes that late deafened adults can live successfully in both worlds.
On behalf of ALDA, Congdon is advocating to get captions on movies in local movie theaters, and pushing for sign language interpreters and captioning services at plays or productions. The challenge is that the services often have a price-tag, which is why Congdon hopes to pursue some fundraising opportunities and partner with other community organizations.
One important partnership would be with the Rock County Job Center, so people who may have difficulties finding work or dealing with hearing loss can get information from ALDA. Another need is for the proper education of counselors and medical personnel.
Congdon never forgets when her doctor simply told her to learn sign language when she was diagnosed with hearing loss. Congdon said losing one’s hearing is much more complex than simply learning sign language, and the recently deafened need appropriate support.
Congdon has learned a lot during the past three years. She’s had to learn to use a bed shaking alarm clock, and has owned three different phones in the past three years - a video, TTY and caption phone. She’s had to work with her employer to make sure she can do her job, and learn new ways of communicating with her family. She’s had to push herself to be more social and to try to see the positives in her situation, joking she doesn’t have to hear kids screaming at work or when they open their Christmas presents at family gatherings.
Her journey has been a life changing event and she hopes she can make it a little smoother for others. She said losing her hearing is something she’ll never like, but has learned to accept it and adapt it to her life.
ALDA has been meeting the third Saturday of each month in the United Way Building, 205 S. Main St., Janesville. For more information e-mail Congdon at mjcongdon@sbcglobal.net