ALDA Ontario

02/25/2026

02/20/2026

Does anyone have an opinion or experience on cell phone accessibility for those that use VCO or auto captioning during a phone call?
Do you use Nagish? Good enough?
If truly deafened do uou tend to interrupt the speaker?
Do you find it awkward or do you use a verbal ‘go ahead’ or GA?

02/16/2026

Today is the last day for the special or lowest '250th Anniversary Rate' for ALDA's annual convention 2026 in Williamsburg VA.
250th Anniversary Rate – $345 (valid until 2/16/26)
Early-bird Rate – $380 (valid from 2/17/26-6/30/26)
Regular Rate – $420 (valid from 7/1/26-9/30/26)

You may register here https://alda.org/aldacon-registration/
Also there is some financial assistance with conditions and you may apply for a scholarship on Alda.org .
Come find a family this October.

Association of Late-Deafened Adults

02/14/2026

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is permanent, sensorineural damage to inner ear hair cells caused by loud sounds. This couple Bradley and Michelle Budde, a husband-and-wife team are bringing awareness of what other sensitivities noise can cause.

Turn It Down Town promotes noise reduction and inclusive public spaces through education, advocacy, and practical resources. Discover how sound awareness can improve health, comfort, and community belonging.

02/10/2026

What Canadians deaf/hh and hh seniors DO NOT have are large screen captioned phones. Watch this link to see what Americans have had since 2003. No laptop required , internet or landline required.
CapTel phones allow you to save and review conversation captions after a call has ended, provided the feature is enabled in the settings.

Learn more about the CapTel phone. This video gives you a quick overview of CapTel in action. CapTel.com

02/05/2026

Found a 2017 survey from the CRTC on ip-relay and the TTY. The USA has had captioned cell phones since 2003 that the FCC funds . They have both large screen desk tops with large print (great for seniors) and also hand held models plus the INNO captions app for cell phone users . We have TTYs and ip-relay . The survey results say :
A 2017 survey by the Deaf Wireless Canada Committee regarding TTY and IP Relay Services (CRTC TNC 2017-33) found that while 91% of respondents used TTY/IP relay, many were shifting toward video relay services (VRS) or direct text. Key findings indicated that 50% still considered TTY important, though many found the machines inaccessible, preferring IP relay on mobile devices.
Key Findings and User Feedback (2017/2018 Surveys):
Usage Trends: While TTY was still used, respondents highlighted a strong move toward more convenient options like IP Relay, texting, and Video Relay Services (VRS).
Accessibility Issues: Respondents reported that TTY machines in public areas (transit centers) were often inconvenient or poorly placed, and many public TTYs are rarely maintained or easily found.
Service Quality: Concerns were raised regarding slow operator typing speeds (often below 60 WPM) and long wait times for service, which averaged over 20-40 seconds in 2016.
Provider Usage: Roughly 35.9% of users relied on Bell TTY Relay Service and 27.5% on TELUS TTY Relay Service.
The survey was essential for the CRTC's review of the regulatory framework for text-based relay services to ensure accessibility for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing Canadians.

Send a message to learn more