microtialife

I am 37 and was born with bilateral Microtia and atresia, a congenital condition in which the ears do not fully develop and which can result in hearing loss. As a child I was fitted with a bone-anchored hearing solution which she covered with a headband every day until age 26 when she found information about her condition. Today, I am vocal advocate for people with hearing loss. The young girl who hid her hearing loss from the world is a confident adult who educates and advocates for others with hearing loss. I serve on the committee for Ear Community's Microtia and Atresia Support Group and is a past president of SW Ohio chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America. I hold a Degree in Deaf Studies and is currently pursuing a Masters in Social Work. I recognize that the benefits of advocacy work both ways, enabling her to achieve "empowerment for myself and others." I am the winner for the 2015 Oticon Focus on People Award for Advocacy.