Donna Sorkin - Advocacy and Legislation on Cochlear Implants

ListenUp!

Donna Sorkin is the current Executive Director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA), an organization that seeks to eliminate the barriers to implant acceptance. She is an expert and renowned advocate for cochlear implants. She previously served as the Vice President of Consumer Affairs at Cochlear Americas before transitioning into the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career, she’s worked as the executive director at other leading organizations for the deaf and those with hearing loss.

In this episode…

Most medical professionals within the audiology sphere know how important cochlear implants are. More specifically, they see firsthand the stigma and lack of acceptance for the devices. There has been a recent push for more understanding in the cultural consciousness, but many advocates don’t have the influence to make the impact they want. One person who does, however, is Donna Sorkin.

Donna has served at multiple organizations, including Cochlear Americas, the Hearing Loss Association of America, and now the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA). She now works exclusively in advocacy and has even presented to the United States Congress on cochlear implants. Few people understand the subject like she does, so what does she think are the next steps for cochlear advocacy?

In this episode of the ListenUp! Podcast, Dr. Mark Syms has an in-depth conversation with Donna Sorkin, the Executive Director of the American Cochlear Implant Alliance (ACIA), about cochlear implant advocacy. The two go over the current challenges in both legislation and cultural perception of implants. They also talk about the ACIA’s work and Donna’s own experience with her hearing loss. Stay tuned to hear all of this and much more!