From Childhood to Confidence: Young Adults Reflect on Life with Hearing Loss
Join our latest AG Bell Parent Chat to hear from AG Bell’s Young Leaders Network! This session will feature young adults who are deaf or hard of hearing as they share their personal journeys from childhood into adulthood. Speakers reflect on their early experiences being diagnosed with hearing loss, navigating school and social life, and developing self-advocacy skills. They discuss the tools, technology, and supports that helped them succeed academically and socially, as well as the challenges they faced along the way. As adults, they highlight how their hearing loss continues to shape their identities, communication choices, confidence, and career paths. Through their stories, the webinar emphasizes empowerment, resilience, and the importance of community, mentorship, and access.
By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the lived experiences of individuals with hearing loss from childhood to adulthood.
Learners will understand common challenges and successes shared by young adults who grew up with hearing loss.
2. Identify key supports that contribute to positive outcomes for children and teens with hearing loss.
This includes technology, family involvement, educational accommodations, and access to hearing or language specialists.
3. Explain the role of self-advocacy in academic, social, and professional success.
Participants will recognize how individuals develop advocacy skills over time and how adults can help foster them earlier.
4. Recognize the long-term impact of early intervention, inclusion, and communication access.
Learners will be able to connect childhood support systems to adult confidence, opportunities, and independence.
5. Apply insights from young adults’ stories to better support children, teens, and families today.
Educators, parents, and professionals will gain practical strategies to empower youth with hearing loss as they grow.
Featured Guest Speakers
AG Bell Young Leaders Board Members
The Young Leaders Board (YLB) is a dedicated group of deaf and hard of hearing young adults who guide and shape the direction of the Young Leaders Network. The YLB works to develop programming, oversee events, and advocate for the needs of deaf and hard of hearing young adults worldwide.
Parent Chats are designed and intended for parents/family members; we kindly ask that only parent/family members attend.
