ALDA-Sonora / Arizona - Founded 2009
The Association of Late-Deafened Adults
Arizona’s 1st Group
ALDA-Sonora Shines in Arizona
The Association of Late-Deafened Adults, an international organization called ALDA-Inc.,
recently granted us national status as Arizona’s first official ALDA group. If you go to ALDA’s
National Headquarters, you will see what is at the heart of organization…“Lost: My Hearing,
Found: A Family.” ALDA strives to bring friendship and connection to those with hearing loss.
What does “late-deafened” mean? Anyone who has become deaf or hard of hearing at
whatever age since learning spoken language. For most ALDAns, that language is English.
Many of us know some American Sign Language (ASL), some are fluent signers but knowledge
of ASL is not a requirement for joining ALDA. We welcome all people with hearing loss and their
families and friends to our meetings, to our events and to our national convention, where
interpreters and CART captioning are provided for all workshops and keynote speakers. No one
is left out! Some ALDAns come from as far away as Australia, England, France, Guatemala,
Norway or Finland. This year saw the formation of ALDA-Asia Pacific, an online group that
covers all of Asia.
Our 2009 convention will be held October 14th-18th in Seattle. You won’t be disappointed if you
choose to attend. Aside from our speakers, there is entertainment, culminating in the
unforgettable Saturday night Karaoke Party. Can’t carry a tune? We certainly don’t care, and we
have been known to attract non-ALDA convention attendees and wedding parties at our hotels
to our on-stage mike. Even Elvis makes an appearance….
What will we do here in Arizona? We will provide accessible organizational meetings and
socials several times a year. Our first meeting was held in November of 2008 in Phoenix. Most
meetings/socials will take place in Phoenix, but we had an April meeting in Surprise, and a
workshop called “Traveling with Hearing Loss: Tips for the Trips” in Tucson at the end of May.
The workshop included members of both ALDA and ALOHA (Adult Loss of Hearing Association).
Our next meeting will be held on November 7th, 2009 in Phoenix, where we will plan our 2010
meetings and events. Some social events that ALDA chapters and groups around the country
have participated in include attending captioned theater or concerts, hiking, presenting
accessible workshops on CPR and First Aid, birthday parties, and pool parties. Your input in
regard to bringing events such as these to ALDA-Sonora will be greatly appreciated. Please join
us!
