Society for Deaf and Hard of Hearing seeks support
It may not be readily apparent but hearing loss is the third most prevalent chronic condition nationally in older adults and the most widespread disability. The Canadian Association of the Deaf estimates that there are 357,000 culturally deaf Canadians and 3.2 million hard of hearing. These numbers translate into about 10 per cent of the national population.
At the Cape Breton Affiliate Society of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Nova Scotians, we develop and manage coordinated services, within a provincial organizational context, to assist deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened people in gaining full access to public, private and community services. The physical size of our organization can at times belie all that we do. The range of services and programs we offer across Cape Breton is broad and includes sign language interpreting; communication and accessibility devices; deaf community resource program; communication help for the hard of hearing people; literacy programming for deaf people sponsorship; and basic sign language classes. Yearly, we work with just under 2,000 clients.
Like most non-profit entities we face our fair share of challenges in meeting our day to day obligations. Prominent among them is the context in which we operate. Among other things is the fact that the prevalence of hearing disabilities rises with age – 46 per cent of people aged 45-87 have hearing loss. As readers will know, Cape Breton’s demographic is such that there is a larger percentage of the population in this age category than typically found in many communities across the country. Thus, there is greater demand per capita for services and programs of the type the society offers on the island than found elsewhere.
What history teaches is that social and economic circumstance play a large role in who turns to a society like ours for help with hearing issues. That said 2016 census data indicate that Cape Breton County tax filers fall well below the national average in terms of household and personal income. Those dependent on some form of government transfers (i.e., EI, CPP, OAS and such) for part or all of their income exceed the national average by greater than 10 per cent. As concerning, if not more so, is that just under 60 per cent of family income reported in Cape Breton County falls in the bottom half of average Canadian family income. For many, the option of turning to for-profit service providers for assistance is not available.
Because of its population size, Cape Breton is a sub-region for census purposes and, therefore, confronted by data limitations in certain areas. Among other things this makes it difficult to generate a sound estimate of the number of persons on the Island affected by hearing loss. Extrapolating from national data, figures range from a low of 10,000 to a high of 20,000. By any measure this is significant.
Doubtless there are those who for lack of information and awareness are confronted with hearing loss of one form or another and feelings of isolation. The society’s focus is to ensure that those who may be in such a situation are afforded real and beneficial options.
As a non-profit, the society is publicly funded in part only. While we are supported, and thankfully so, by entities such as the United Way, the expectation is that a portion of our yearly operating budget come from the community at large. Consequently, like so many other worthy non-profits we are compelled to fundraise. That said our hope is that the information provided above helps prospective donors better understand the magnitude of the need we face, the benefit of the services we provide, and the considerable value to community in having people with hearing loss function and participate in an accessible society.
We appreciate not all potential donors are in a position to make a financial contribution to the society. One can contribute other ways. For example, we operate a hearing aid bank. This consists of hearing aids donated to the society. Once donated, they are cleaned, repaired and then made available to one of the clients on our sizeable wait list: clients who find the cost of new hearing aids prohibitive. We ask therefore, if you have hearing aids that are no longer in use, that you consider donating them to the society and we in turn will ensure a client gets them.