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 Since its inception in 1997, the Oticon Focus on People Awards has honored outstanding people with hearing loss who prove that hearing loss does not limit a person's ability to live a full, productive and even, inspiring life. This year, the national awards competition, sponsored by Oticon Inc., celebrates twelve years of honoring people who defy the stigma of hearing loss. The addition of twelve new honorees brings the number of individuals honored by the program for their accomplishments and contributions to 192-an even 16 dozen.
Among this year winners is the program's oldest honoree to date: 100-years-young Julius Barthoff of Needham, MA, who was the overwhelming choice of the judges for first place in the highly competitive adult category. Barthoff, who celebrated his 100th birthday shortly before the awards presentation, has worn hearing instruments since 1923 and has been an advocate for recognition of people with hearing loss throughout his long and service-minded life. Also honored at the ceremony was Paige Stringer (advocacy category), founder of The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss and Kristin Grasberger (student category), a freshman at James Madison University who has worked to change perceptions, not only of hearing loss but also of the many developmental and physical challenges faced by the children and teens she mentors. In the practitioner category, audiologist David Woodruff, AuD, of San Diego was recognized for charitable work that has improved the lives of thousands of disadvantaged children with hearing loss in Southeast Asia.
The Oticon Focus on People Awards program is designed to focus attention on common misconceptions about hearing loss, correct negative stereotypes and motivate people with hearing loss to take advantage of the help that is available to them.
"We are gratified that for twelve years, practitioners, educators, families, and friends have nominated outstanding people with hearing loss and dedicated professionals for the Focus on People Awards," stated Oticon President Peer Lauritsen. "Each year, hundreds of nominations representing people from all walks of life are reviewed by our judging panel. Each has a unique story and has made a unique contribution to changing negative perceptions of hearing loss. We are both humbled by their accomplishments and inspired by their ability to make a meaningful difference for people with hearing loss."
In addition to a $1000 prize, first place winners also received a $1000 donation from Oticon Inc. to the non-profit organization of their choice. Also honored at the awards presentation were eight second and third place winners in the program's five categories: Student (full-time students with hearing loss, ages 6-21), Adult (people with hearing loss, ages 21 and beyond), Advocacy (individuals of all ages involved in advocacy for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community), and Practitioner (for hearing care professionals currently in practice).
The winners were selected by independent judging committee composed of leading hearing care professionals. This year's program judges included: Anne Anderson, MA, CCC-A, FAAA, of Mt. Arlington, NJ; Nancy Green, HIS, of River Valley Hearing Care Center, North Mankato, MN; Dennis Hatherill, AuD, of Kelsey-Seybold Audiology in Houston, TX; Marilyn Hinrichs, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA, of Advanced Hearing Care, Dallas, TX; and John Miles, AuD, of Los Gatos, CA.
FIRST PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS
ADULT
Julius Barthoff of Needham, MA
Julius Barthoff, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday, has worn hearing instruments since 1923 and has been an advocate for recognition of people with hearing loss throughout his long and service-minded life. He has developed buttons ("Speak up, I Am Hearing Impaired") and index card-sized instructions ("I am profoundly hearing impaired. We can communicate by following these simple rules. . .") that he happily shares--providing guidance and inspiration to the many people with hearing loss he has encountered in his 100 years. More recently, Barthoff has successfully lobbied for the local library to install a TTY telephone, advised countless fellow senior citizens on hearing loss and hearing aids and is currently working to get a crosswalk installed on the street that connects his senior housing and the local hospital. Described as "lively, vibrant and warm," Julius is a widower who lives on his own and continues his commitment to doing a good deed daily. Each morning, he delivers the newspapers to each apartment door in his senior residence--propping them up "just so" so that when a resident opens the door, the paper falls neatly in.
STUDENT
Kristin Grasberger of Mechanicsburg, PA
Eighteen-year-old Kristin Grasberger has never allowed her hearing loss to limit her dreams. A freshman at James Madison University, Kristin is pursuing a degree in music education--a remarkable accomplishment for someone whose hearing loss was first identified in kindergarten. The National Merit scholar excels in music and languages and is committed to sharing her love of music with others through entertainment, enrichment and education. For several years, she has organized and performed in chamber concerts at local hospitals and tutored students at an inner city school. Kristin is equally passionate about changing negative perceptions of disabilities--from her own hearing loss to the developmental and physical challenges faced by the children and teens she mentors in the Young Life Capernaum.
ADVOCACY
Paige Stringer of Seattle, WA
Paige Stringer, who was born with a hearing loss, attributes her ability to excel in school and work to early intervention programs and strong family and teacher support. Now a successful freelance marketing and public relations consultant, she is passing her good fortune on to children with hearing loss in Vietnam through a foundation she established, The Global Foundation for Children with Hearing Loss. From her first-hand experience as a volunteer at the Thuan An Center state-sponsored school in Binh Duong province, Paige learned that the teachers often do not have the training needed to work effectively with the children, resulting in many hearing impaired children failing to get the support they need in the critical early years. Working through the Global Foundation, she has embarked on a three-year initiative with Thuan An Center that will provide teacher training, as well as hearing technology. In September, Paige was invited to present the Global Foundation's work to speech and language pathology professionals visiting Vietnam as part of the United Nations People to People Citizen Ambassador Program.
PRACTITIONER
David Woodruff, AuD, CCC-A, FAAA
For David Woodruff, helping others with hearing loss goes beyond the confines of his two offices in San Diego. His commitment to making a difference extends to hearing impaired children in schools, clinics, churches, and monasteries located thousands of miles away in remote villages of Vietnam, Laos and Burma. As a volunteer and board member for Americans Helping Asian Children, Dr. Woodruff regularly donates vacations and free time to travel to Southeast Asia to treat disadvantaged children with hearing loss. In addition, he provides technical training to healthcare workers, teachers and parents regarding hearing loss and the maintenance of hearing instruments. Along with small teams of audiologists, health professionals and volunteers, Dr. Woodruff has helped thousands of children and fitted more than 4,800 hearing devices since the program's inception in 1993.
SECOND & THIRD PLACE CATEGORY WINNERS
ADULT
Scott Tankersley of Amarillo, TX
Harry Weitkemper of Columbia, MO
STUDENT
Kristin Minasian of Whittier, CA
Allison Schmidt of Somers, NY
ADVOCACY
Kelly Landsberg of Port Richey, FL
Linda O'Neal of Clovis, CA
PRACTITIONER
Cathy Kooser, LISW of Dayton, OH
Shantell Lewis, AuD of Richmond, VA
For more information: www.oticonusa.com
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