People who have hearing loss communicate in a variety of ways. However you communicate, you have the right to effective communication under state and federal law.

In this webinar, we will talk about what communication access looks like. You will learn about:

• What self-advocacy means
• How to make communication easier
• What assistive technology you can use
• What communication accommodations are available
• How to request accommodations
• Your legal rights to communication access
• How State Services can help.

When

Monday, January 26, 2026, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where

Online using Zoom. 

• Zoom is free to use on any laptop, desktop, tablet or smartphone with an internet connection. 
• You do not need to download anything.
• The link will be included in your confirmation email you receive when you register.

Who should attend

• People with hearing loss and combined hearing and vision loss.
• Family and friends of people with hearing loss.
• Service providers and caregivers.
• Social workers and health care workers. Continuing education (CE) hours available. 
  • For social workers: Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing State Services is a Minnesota Board of Social Work approved continuing education provider. Up to 2 hours of continuing education clock hours are available for social workers attending this training.
  • For nurses: This activity has been designed to meet the Minnesota Board of Nursing continuing education requirements. However, the nurse is responsible for determining whether this activity meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.

Accessibility

This webinar is in American Sign Language and English with interpretation and real-time captions. If you need other accommodations to participate, please contact us by January 12, 2026.

Registration

Registration is free. Please register by January 19, 2026: Living Independently with Hearing Loss Registration Form. 

If you have questions about registration, please contact us.