This is a time when it is necessary to take responsibility for yourself and identify and explain your hearing loss when you are in public. A change of scenery can help relieve tension. Take time to enjoy your life and hug your family and friends. Here are some tips to help you function every day as well as when you go on a trip.
 

1. When you leave the house, carry ID showing your name, address and phone number, the fact you have a hearing loss and the names and addresses of your family members and medical providers.

2. When you arrange a trip, tell everyone involved you are hard of hearing/deaf, including the travel agent, ticket clerk, airlines, group coordinator or cruise ship operator. You may want to ask to have this information put on your ticket.

3. State your needs in writing.

4. If possible, get written confirmation of arrangements.

5. Leave a copy of your itinerary, ticket(s), passport, license, and credit card(s) with a responsible person. Make sure your personal affairs are in order.

6. Check the Web site or call the carrier you are using to find out about identification requirements and baggage restrictions. These keep changing, so it is important to recheck this information within 24 hours of your trip. For more information, go to the Web sites for SHHH National at www.shhh.org and the FAA at www.faa.gov

7. Wear a pin or something that indicates you are hard of hearing.

8. The FAA ruled that it is OK to take ALDs you need to communicate in your carry-on luggage. Be prepared to explain what they are for.*

9. Keep pencil/pen and paper handy.

10. Take batteries out of assistive devices and, if possible, put disconnected ALDs in your checked luggage.

11. At the airport, tell the person at the check-in desk you have a hearing loss and sit where you can be seen.

12. As you board, immediately tell the flight attendants you are unable to hear the public address system and will need explanations in an emergency. If you are traveling alone, ask your seatmate to help you.

13. When you travel with a group, explain you are hard of hearing/deaf, demonstrate the assistive devices you use, tell about the "Communicating with Someone with a Hearing Loss" tip sheet and ask people to help you when necessary.

14. If you have communication problems during the trip, speak to the person in charge and explain your needs calmly and clearly. Try to keep your sense of humor.

15. Take responsibility for yourself and have a good time.

*For your information: The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new fact sheet dated October 29, 2001: "Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements Preserve and Respect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities." Information of special interest to hard of hearing and deaf people follows:

The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices. Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft.

Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices and Braille 'N' Speak will go through the same sort of security screening process as used for personal computers.

Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability, including those with vision or hearing impairments, have timely access to information, such as new security measures, that the carriers provide to other passengers. For example, on flights to Reagan Washington National Airport, passengers are verbally warned to use the restrooms more than half an hour before arrival since after that point in time passengers are required to remain in their seats. Alternative formats are necessary to ensure that all passengers, especially deaf persons, understand new security measures such as that one.

For more information, the Web site is: www.dot.gov/airconsumer/01-index.htm