CIICA Network’s Activities on CI International Day 2025
There was a huge amount of activity on International CI Day this year. See below some of the initiatives within the CIICA network! Do send us yours!
On CIICA’s fourth birthday and CI International Day, we were delighted to share the Agenda that a global group of Young Adults with CI has been working on. This new stakeholders’ group, the first to receive hearing through cochlear implants as children, are now entering higher education and the world of work.See their recommendations for the provision of lifelong services, increased accessibility and public awareness.
Spanish organisation AICE marked International CI Day with their campaign across the Spanish public transportation system, with advertisements on buses and in Metro stations in various Spanish cities.
AICE also raised awareness at the Palacio de la Música in Valencia with 1,500 people; tickets sold out!! Beethoven’s wonderful music reminded everyone of his battle with his deafness.
Read more about their manifesto here!
EURO-CIU declared the slogan “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges” for Cochlear Implant Day 2025, emphasizing the urgent need to overcome the stigmas and everyday challenges faced by the hard of hearing and deaf people. Through education, culture, and the dissemination of information about cochlear implants, the goal is to enhance understanding and improve lives.
Read more about their International CI Day activities here.
CI user and Young Adults with CI campaigner, Qais Khan, shared the Young Adult’s agenda with his colleagues and treated them to Dunkin Donuts!!
Five Flemish Associations for people with hearing loss join together
A great new video launched on CI International Day from HOORNETWERK VLAANDEVEN. This video is the result of a great collaboration between 5 Flemish associations for people with a hearing loss, representing > 90% of the population with a hearing loss in Flanders-Belgium, showing the help that is available when people lose their hearing.
Collaboration is so important! Watch the video here
On International Cochlear Implant Day, Auditory Verbal UK shared Sanemi’s story (pictured) celebrating what is possible when deaf children have access to early and effective support. Sanemi, 12, was born profoundly deaf and had cochlear implant surgery at 15 months. She is now thriving at school after the support from her family and professionals, including her Auditory Verbal Therapist, who supported Sanemi to learn to listen and talk by learning to make sense of the sound she receives through her implants and develop spoken language. Sanemi won the 2024 Claire Campbell Outstanding Achievement Award for going above and beyond to demonstrate that deaf children can achieve their potential. She is also an ambassador and mentor for Advanced Bionics and volunteers with the BEARS Both Ears trial.
AVUK were also proud to share the Young Adult Agenda launch from CIICA, which saw input from Ava Pearson, who was supported by AVUK’s family programme as a young child.
Canadian Hard of Hearing Association (CHHA) launches their Spend2Save Canada campaign!
On CI International Day CHHA launched their Spend2Save Canada campaign aimed at improving provision of CI and equity across the Canadian provinces.
Brian Lamb and Sue Archbold were delighted to contribute to this launch, having contributed Spend2SaveCanada and it was great to hear how much has been done by their Spend2Save Campaign Committee to support this powerful launch. We look forward to further collaboration with CHHA on this topic – that investing in CI changes lives and saves society money!
International Cochlear Implant Day 2025 coincides with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Hearing Day theme, “Changing Mindsets: Let’s Make Ear and Hearing Care a Reality for All.” This shared focus recognises the vital role cochlear implants play in improving hearing and communication for thousands of New Zealanders.
Visit PinDrop’s website here for more of their activities.
