Hearing and Speech Action and Work with the Deaf became an official program of Lions Clubs International in 1971.

The program's mission statement is:  
To demonstrate concern and respect for the dignity and independence of people who have hearing or speech challenges, with the goal of improving their quality of life.

The Role of the Chairperson
The district governor appoints a Lion to serve as district Hearing and Speech Action and Work with the Deaf Chairperson to serve a one-year term. The chairperson helps to organize and implement projects that provide assistance to aid people who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech impairments. The chairperson provides motivation and support needed to encourage club and district participation in hearing and speech-related projects. Chairperson responsibilities include:

• Setting goals. Evaluate the effectiveness of current club and district-level hearing and speech projects. Develop goals and a district plan, including procedures required to fulfill the plan. Upon the district governor's approval, post and promote the plan via the district Web site, an open letter in the district governor's newsletter, e-mails, personal letters, telephone calls, or personal visits.
• Incorporating new project ideas contributed by clubs. Generate participation through new projects and activities, while also enhancing the existing local, regional or national programs. Work with local health care professionals and organizations to determine community needs and provide the most appropriate services.
• Arranging seminars and workshops to provide educational resources and information about hearing loss and its prevention and assisting individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech challenges. Invite health care professionals as speakers to help motivate clubs to participate in hearing and speech-related projects.
• Informing clubs about district and multiple district hearing and speech-related resources available for children and adults.
• Reporting hearing and speech-related activities to the district cabinet and to the local media through communications with the district public relations chairperson.

District Chairperson should be familiar with:

• Lions board policy as it pertains to Hearing and Speech Action and Work With the Deaf
• prevention of hearing loss, information on deafness, speech impairments and medical or technological advances in hearing and speech
• Lions Hearing Aid Recycling Program
• opportunities for Lions to create and contribute to hearing and speech-related projects, including hearing screenings and recreational camps for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing
• district and/or multiple district rehabilitation, vocational or support services for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech impairment
• Criteria for the district chairperson award, as outlined below

Deaf Awareness Week
The last full week  in September (Sunday through Saturday) is Deaf Awareness Week.  The purpose of Deaf Awareness Week is to draw attention to deaf people, their accomplishments and their issues.

Online Resources

• Chairperson Newsletter: sent via e-mail to hearing and speech chairpersons of record and other interested Lions. Click here to add your name to the mailing list.
• Lions Newswire: stay up-to-date with the latest Lions announcements and program information.
• Lions Learning Center: online courses to develop skills for a successful leadership role.
• PR Tools: public service announcements (PSA's), fill-in-the-blank press releases, print ads and other tools can help raise public awareness of your club and district activities.

International Resources
Chairpersons are encouraged to use the Internet as an international resource which provides continually updated information about deafness, hearing impairments and speech impairments. Lions Clubs International includes the following information as a service.

• (US) National Association of the Deaf (NAD)
• (US) Gallaudet University - National Deaf Education Center
• (US) National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
• (US) Hearing Loss Association of America
• (US) American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf (AG Bell)  
• Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA)
• International Federation of Hard of Hearing People (IFHOH)  
• Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID)   
• World Federation of the Deaf (WFD)  
• World Health Organization (WHO)

Award for District Hearing and Speech Chairperson

The award certificate is mailed to each district governor. At the end of the year, the district governor presents the award to the hearing and speech chairperson for his outstanding leadership and service, as summarized in the award criteria (listed below).

Award Criteria

• Outlined and implemented a district plan of action for a public awareness program to understand the needs of persons with hearing and speech impairments
• Motiviated a substantial number of clubs to paraticipate in the Heating and Speech Action and Work With the Deaf Program
• Played a key role in planning and initiating a hearing and speech action project in the district

Contact us
Chairpersons are encouraged to submit information and photographs of successful hearing and speech-related projects to the Health and Children's Services Department. For more information, please contact:

Health and Children's Services
Lions Clubs International
300 W. 22nd Street
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523-8842 USA
E-mail: programs@lionsclubs.org