In 2022, the United States Veterans Administrations estimated Virginia was home to 614,631 veterans, representing 9.2% of the state’s civilian population aged 18 and over. In Prince William alone, there are approximately 43,000 veterans, according to the Greater Prince William Veterans Treatment Docket and the U.S. Census Bureau. These statistics bring with them high numbers of women and men who served but do not have access to services.
Northern Virginia Veterans Association (NOVA Veterans) aims to change that, standing out as a beacon of support for underserved veteran populations. Founded in January 2015 by MAJ Angela H. McConnell, Ph.D. USA/USAFR (RET), the organization has carved out a niche as a one-stop resource for veterans who face numerous barriers in transitioning to and thriving in civilian life.
Sony Corporation of America Donates Over-the-Counter Hearing Aids to the Northern Virginia Veterans Association
In March 2022, Sony Corporation of America and the Northern Virginia Veterans Association established a partnership to further support veterans in the Northern Virginia region. The organization provides veterans with local services, resources, personal support, follow-up and care and have collaborated with Sony employee volunteers across the United States to honor the contributions of our nation’s service members.
The Northern Virginia Veterans Association recognizes the importance of providing veterans and their families with the highest standard of care, and diminishing the inequities that the elderly, underserved, and disabled in this community struggle with and experience daily. This mission aligns closely with Sony’s commitment to leverage creativity and technology to enrich and improve people’s lives, and last year, the company embarked on a special initiative that would help to enhance the everyday lives of the veterans and spouses supported by the Northern Virginia Veterans Association.
Sony strives to create accessible products, services and experiences that can be enjoyed by everyone, and in October 2022, Sony Electronics launched its first over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids for the U.S. market in partnership with WS Audiology. The CRE-C10 and the CRE-E10 self-fitting OTC hearing aids were created for daily use and were designed to break down the current barriers faced by those with signs of mild to moderate hearing loss. Through a user-friendly app, the devices can be easily personalized for the wearer’s specific hearing needs and preferences.
During the 2022 holiday season, Sony Corporation of America donated 15 pairs of its recently launched CRE-C10 OTC (over-the-counter) hearing aids to the Northern Virginia Veterans Association. In highlighting the impact of this donation to their community, Angela McConnell, Founder, President and CEO of the Northern Virginia Veterans Association shared, “These high-tech hearing aids will not only fill a need for veterans and their spouses, but also work towards breaking down the barriers our veterans have in accessing medical appointments and other requirements. Hearing and understanding over the phone are IT challenges most don’t understand, but it’s a critical challenge to so many of our hearing-impaired veterans and their spouses.”
One of the first recipients of these hearing aids was Army Veteran Ward N. He shared, “Hearing, much like vision, is a cherished capability that is critical to a person’s quality of life…I have found that my hearing loss has caused me to miss critical information in both conversations and when sitting through a [speaking engagement] …While it is easy to ignore, doing so only made things worse. Consequently, I was very interested in your Sony hearing aids program. I believe that being a beneficiary of your hearing aid program has improved my quality of life by improving both my physical and mental health.”
The OTC hearing aids are just one of the products that Sony has recently designed with accessibility in mind. At the 38th California State University Northridge (CSUN) Assistive Technology Conference in March 2023, Sony exhibited seven products that demonstrate the company’s commitment to incorporate accessibility into its products and services.
This collaboration between Sony Corporation of America and the Northern Virginia Veterans Association was a meaningful way to support a community whose needs are often overlooked or neglected and underscores the importance of keeping accessibility top of mind in the creation of new products and services.