Oticon, Inc announced that it is looking for outstanding people with hearing loss for the 2021 Oticon “Focus on People Awards.” Nominations are now open for the national awards program that honors students, adults, and advocacy volunteers with any degree of hearing loss whose accomplishments show that hearing loss does not limit a person’s ability to make a positive difference in their communities or the world.  

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By celebrating the achievements and contributions of people with hearing loss, Oticon “aims to change negative perceptions of hearing loss and encourage people reluctant to address their own hearing health to seek professional care.” Since 1997, this awards competition has recognized more than 300 outstanding people with hearing loss from across the US, according to the company’s announcement.

“Our Oticon ‘Focus on People Award’ winners come from diverse backgrounds with different talents, passions, and challenges,” said Nancy Palmere, director of consumer marketing and public relations for Oticon, Inc.  “What they share is the ability to change the attitudes of people who expect ‘less’ from a person with hearing loss. Their unique stories are powerful illustrations of the world of possibilities open to people with hearing loss who seek the support of dedicated hearing care professionals and the benefits of life-changing technology.”

Easy to Nominate

Anyone may submit a nomination.  Access the easy-to-follow online nomination form at: Oticon.com/FOP. People with all degrees of hearing loss – from mild to more severe – are eligible. There is also a special category for hearing care practitioners with or without hearing loss. The deadline for nominations is October 15, 2021.

Four Categories with Three Winners in Each

Categories include: Student, for full-time students with hearing loss, ages 6 – 25; Adult, for people with hearing loss, ages 21 and above; and Advocacy, for volunteers with hearing loss, who are actively involved in support efforts for the hard-of-hearing and deaf community. A special Practitioner category recognizes hearing care professionals who go “above and beyond” through humanitarian and public education efforts. Nominees in the Practitioner category are not required to have a hearing loss to qualify.

First place winners receive a $1,000 cash prize and a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice. First-place winners in the Student, Adult, and Advocacy categories also receive Oticon BrainHearing hearing devices. Second-place winners receive a $500 cash prize and third-place winners, a $250 cash prize.

Following the close of nominations, the general public will be invited to vote online to determine first-, second-, and third-place winners in each category.

To learn more about the 2021 Oticon Focus on People Awards and to submit a nomination, visit: Oticon.com/FOP.

Source: Oticon

Image: Oticon