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Nominate now for the Oticon Focus on People Award

If you know someone with hearing loss or a hearing care professional who is an outstanding advocate for the hearing loss community, then you should nominate them for an award!

Oticon, a hearing aid manufacturer, has announced its 14th Annual Oticon Focus on People Awards. Their Focus on People Award looks for nominees that are students, adults and advocates with a hearing loss that strive to succeed and inspire in life. They also seek nominations for outstanding Hearing Care Practitioner. And as most awards do, they also have prizes for the winners.

You can place your nominations online at the links provided.
Here is a breakdown of the categories (online nomination form)

• Students – for young people with hearing loss, ages 6 - 21 (full-time students)
• Adults – for people with hearing loss, ages 21 and above
• Advocacy – for adults with hearing loss, who are actively involved in support efforts for the hard-of-hearing and deaf community (full-time students in advocacy apply for Student category)

There is a separate form for Hearing Care Practitioner (online nomination form)

• Hearing Care Practitioner – for hearing care professionals who are currently in practice

Prizes!!!
Oticon will announce 3 winners in each category in September. First Place winners in the Student, Adult and Advocacy categories receive a $1,000 prize, a $1,000 gift to the charity of their choice and a set of Oticon advanced technology hearing instruments. 

The First place winner in the Hearing Professional Category receives $1,000 and $1,000 gift to the charity of their choice. In all categories, second place winners receive $500 and third place winners receive $250. All nominees receive Certificates of Recognition from Oticon.

Who are the judges?

A panel of hearing care professionals will choose 3 finalists in each category. Then Oticon will invite the public to vote online for one finalist in each category.

What are they looking for?

• Nominees with any degree of hearing loss from mild to moderate to more severe. 
• Achievements and contributions in any of a broad range of community, civic and social areas.
• Ability to challenge outdated stereotypes of what it means to have a hearing loss.

You can visit their website for more information: Oticon USA
Nomination deadline is July 27, 2011.