Young Adults with CI: Collective Advocacy in Action
CIICA has launched the young adults Agenda For Change with a video and briefing highlighting the voices of young adults with cochlear implants. The aim was to raise awareness of their experiences and challenges, and to share this across the global hearing health community and beyond.
Download the Agenda For Change
We are the first deaf young people with CI who are stepping into the hearing world… everyone here, united across the globe.
Our recommendations include:
- Provision of Lifelong Services
- Improved Accessibility in Education, Workplace and Public Places
- Public Education Campaigns to increase awareness of deafness and cochlear implantation
The response has been inspiring. Here are just some ways of the briefing and video have been shared and used, and celebrated worldwide:
The work that CIICA does is valuable. With their video and briefing about International Cochlear Implant Day, I think the awareness of CI users and what they face is growing within the global hearing health industry and I hope it won’t be too long before that awareness can enter the public consciousness too. – John Lui, CI User from Australia
“The CIICA agenda was a brilliant resource that helped me communicate my needs clearly and confidently with my university. It led to better understanding and improved support, which I hope will benefit many other young deaf people in higher education.” Gargi Agrawalla, CI user from UK
“With what I have shared, especially on instagram and facebook, my friends and friends of friends have shared on my behalf and have liked the posts and checked out the website and video! My former teacher who is a teacher for deaf kids saw my post and have shared.” – Raquel Tiana Leblac
“The report was a really helpful tool when I started a new job this year, mainly in educating my colleagues in better understanding the kind of barriers I face and the reality of living with cochlear implants. It especially helped me normalise using other hearing equipment in the office, as having the voices of other CI users in the report articulated the support I would need and took the pressure off me having to advocate for myself. Having a global community to refer to is really empowering personally and professionally; now when I talk about cochlear implants to other people, I no longer feel the need to talk about my experiences in isolation as my needs feel universal and connect to others around the world.” – Holly Loach, CI user from UK
I owe pretty much my entire life to my CI. It allows me to attend a mainstream school, helps me build relationships and enables me to integrate and be a part of the hearing world. While CI solves so many problems, there are a few that could be solved with just a bit more attentive, lifelong care. (UK)
Sharing from Australia
John shared his reflections publicly on Hear For You Facebook
Yesterday was International Cochlear Implant Day, where people around the world come together to celebrate the life-changing impact of cochlear implants. These devices can enhance sound clarity, improve speech understanding, and help individuals regain or develop confidence in social settings and the world around them.
We’re especially proud that the cochlear implant was invented right here in Australia, revolutionising hearing technology and changing lives worldwide.
In recognition of this special day, CIICA (Cochlear Implant International Community of Action) marked their 4th birthday by launching the Young Adults With Cochlear Implants Agenda. As CIICA states, “As part of the new generation of deaf people working and thriving in the hearing world, this Agenda exists to connect us to a wider community across the world …”
Sharing with Doctors and Networks in Czech Republic
Marie Stocklova promoted the briefing via the SUKI Instagram account, where doctors and other professionals follow their updates.
Raising awareness in Spain!
Jana took the opportunity to share the Agenda For Change at the AICCV assembly. She explained the agenda, showed the video, and arranged for a translation of the material for attendees.
Why This Matters
All of these contributions show how CIICA’s video and briefing are making a difference in real life:
- Helping people talk about cochlear implants in their everyday lives and workplaces
- Making it easier for universities and other institutions to understand and give better support.
- Reaching people around the world, even in different languages and community events.
- Spreading widely on social media, giving young adults with cochlear implants a stronger voice.
These efforts show the power of collective advocacy and the value of ensuring young adults with cochlear implants voices are central in shaping CI services.
