(Rockland) ALDA-MAINE, based in midcoast and serving all of Maine, announces its first Board of Directors, and a grant from the Maine Community Foundation to establish this unique non- profit and all volunteer Association in all of Maine. ALDA advocates for deafened and hard of hearing adults of all ages, and provides information and support, including access using captioning. Hearing loss at any age is often progressive, and there are many new things to learn, and many new friends to meet in ALDA-Maine.

People with acquired hearing loss want to understand hearing changes that occur, and how to help themselves and others best communicate in new ways, even though it is not always easy to talk about. Hearing loss affects established work duties, even friendships and family relations, including social and community participation for healthy living. It's important not to become isolated, and to help all hearing groups learn more too.

There are many different reasons for hearing loss, often called late deafness or being hard of hearing. Some are exposure to noise, inherited, damage due to medication or illness of various sorts. A common thread for all is the need to learn new communication methods, and to advocate for captioning in group situations. Also, hearing aids, lip reading, and for some, sign language, are other forms of communication assistance.

ALDA-Maine was established in April 2006. On June 1 the association began its second year with continuing monthly meetings in the Portland area (at the Windham Public Library), as well as plans for continuing meetings in Rockland, Bangor, Augusta, and 24/7 using the ALDA-Maine Online Discussion Forum. For more information, see the website WWW.ALDA-MAINE.MYSITE.COM

The first ALDA-Maine Board of Directors represents different parts of Maine and New England: Lauren Storck, President, lives in mid-coast. Sandra Haggard, Vice President, lives in the Bangor region. Amber Wilhelm, Secretary, works in Vermont. Nancy Melanson and June Ellis, Members at Large, represent the Augusta region.

ALDA-Maine is proud to receive a grant from the Maine Community Foundation, with support from the Knox County Fund and the Cummings Fund, a component fund of the Community Building Grant Program. This money will be used to establish a presence for ALDA in Maine, and to reach interested Maine people with any sort of hearing need. One of the primary goals for the new year (June 2007 through May 2008) is to demonstrate CART (real time captioning for equal access communications) to as many groups throughout Maine as possible. Another goal is to establish an endowment for future sustainability of the all volunteer association. ALDA-Maine is a 501 (3)c non-profit). New members and guests for all meetings are welcome. Contact alda-maine@caregiving-online.com via email.

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