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CENTER FOR INDEPENDENT LIVING SPONSORS CONFERENCE TO HELP HARD OF HEARING "Working Together," will help employees and job seekers improve communication.   (Camp Hill, PA) - On May 6 a special conference for employers, hard of hearing employees and job seekers entitled, "Working Together," will be held in the C. Ted Lick Conference Center at Harrisburg Area Community College. The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania (CILCP), a nonprofit, nonresidential organization serving people with disabilities in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties, will sponsor the event. "Our goal is to help show people with disabilities that they can fully participate in the work place," said Patricia Brockley, an independent living specialist for CILCP. "By sponsoring 'Working Together' we want to help eliminate hard of hearing communications problems in the work place." During the conference professionals with experience with assisting hard of hearing employees will conduct presentations on various hearing related topics. Representatives from the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation will discuss strategies on identifying the necessary equipment to assist hard of hearing employees. Larry Rogers of Capital Region PA Career Link will explain unemployment compensation procedures. Judith Rich from the U.S. Department of Labor will discuss employment through apprenticeship. Margaret McKenna, a staff attorney from the Center for Disability Law and Policy, will explain how the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) affects employees and employers in the hiring and development of hard of hearing employees. Also, during the conference a panel of hard of hearing employers and employees will discuss coping with hearing loss and acquiring devices to overcome barriers associated with hearing loss. "The conference explores the different challenges associated with hearing loss that effect the work place and helps companies find solutions," Brockley said. "We want to show employers that hearing loss is an obstacle that can easily be overcome." During the presentations, real time captioning, sign language interpreters and listening devices enable those with hearing loss full access to the event. The Pennsylvania State Office for Self Help for Hard of Hearing People, Inc. (SHHH), PA Business Leadership Network and Central Pennsylvania College are sponsoring the event along with CILCP. The cost is $35 per individual and $60 for a student and parent attending together. The cost covers all workshops and presentations, and includes lunch. The Center for Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania is a nonprofit, nonresidential organization established for and by people with disabilities and serves Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, Mifflin and Juniata counties. CILCP's vision is to empower people with disabilities to fully participate in all aspects of society. For more information on the CILCP contact Nathan Pigott at 717-975-2148 or via email at npigott@hersheyphilbin.com. ### Back to the Newsroom