Accessibility is about creating communities that ensure participation is free from barriers. With the recent passage of Federal and Provincial accessibility legislation, it is important for audiologists to consider their professional role in supporting those who experience hearing barriers in the public context. How can audiologists support improved hearing for different populations, with and without hearing loss or hearing aids, in the community? Hearing environments of interest might include: public/post-secondary education, transportation, information/communication, the workplace, and goods/service centres.
In this session, attendees will learn about:
- The Federal and Provincial Accessibility Legislation
- Models of disability
- Universal Design for Hearing
- The National Building Code/the built environment
- Assistive listening systems and devices used in community settings
Janine Verge
Assistive Listening: Hearing Accessibility in a Community Setting
Janine Verge has worked as a clinical audiologist for the past 25 years. She obtained her BSc (Psychology) at Mount Saint Vincent University, her MSc (Audiology) from Dalhousie University, and her AuD from A.T. Still University. Janine won the 2009 NSHSC Advocacy Award, the 2013 NSHSC Dr. Barrie Coward Continuing Educational Award, the 2017 NSHSC Outstanding Performance Award, the 2019 Speech-Language and Audiology Canada Mentorship award, and the 2021 CAA President's award.
Advocacy has always been an important issue to Janine. She is co-founder of the Dalhousie Hearing Aid Assistance Program which provides hearing aids for people with funding problems. Janine has single sided deafness from infancy and became an audiologist to help others with hearing loss. Growing frustrated with the lack of community accessibility, she started Accessible Hearing Solutions Inc. with her business partner, Duncan Floyd.