Volunteer With the Hearing Loss Association of Florida
Hearing loss volunteer opportunities across Florida for people with hearing loss, family and friends, ASL users, students and professionals. A few hours a month makes a difference.
Volunteer with the deaf and hard of hearing community in Florida
HLAA-FL is run entirely by volunteers. If you want to volunteer with people who are deaf or hard of hearing, you can help at the state level from anywhere in Florida, or in person with a local chapter near you. Roles range from greeting newcomers at a meeting to serving on the board. You do not need a hearing loss, and you do not need to know sign language, although ASL skills are welcome.
Fill out the form on this page and a board member will follow up in the way you prefer: text, call or email.
Why lived experience matters
Most people who find HLAA are looking for someone who understands. A volunteer who wears hearing aids or a cochlear implant, who has learned to ask for captions, or who has watched a parent or spouse struggle to hear can offer something no brochure can: proof that life goes on and gets better.
That is the peer model at the heart of HLAA. Since 1979, HLAA and its chapters have been led by people with hearing loss, for people with hearing loss. About 48 million Americans have hearing loss, and many wait years before seeking help. Volunteers who share their own story shorten that wait for someone else.
Friends, family members and professionals are just as welcome. Audiologists, speech-language pathologists, interpreters, captioners, teachers and students bring skills we need and learn from the people we serve.
State-level volunteer roles
HLAA-FL's current priorities are outreach, advocacy and education. Most state-level work happens by email and captioned Zoom, so you can help from any part of Florida.
Board member
Serve as an officer, trustee or committee chair. Help set direction, approve the budget and represent Florida to HLAA national.
About board serviceCommunications and social media
Write for the newsletter and website, manage social media posts, edit photos and captions, or help with press releases.
Community outreach and speakers bureau
Represent HLAA-FL at health fairs, senior centers, libraries, houses of worship and veteran events. Speak about hearing loss from your own experience.
Legislative and policy advocacy
Track Florida bills that affect people with hearing loss, contact legislators, and help members tell their stories to decision-makers.
Hearing loop advocacy
Encourage venues to install hearing loops, test loops that already exist, and help us keep a list of looped places in Florida.
Technology support
Help with Zoom hosting, captions, the website, email tools and online forms so meetings and outreach run smoothly.
Events
Plan and staff statewide events such as webinars, outreach tables and the annual meeting. Registration tables, signage, greeting and follow-up.
Chapter support
Help existing chapters with speakers and resources, and help new groups get started in parts of Florida with no chapter yet.
Volunteer at a local chapter
Florida's chapters and support groups are where most people first walk in the door. Every chapter needs helpers, and every task on this list can be done by someone with hearing loss.
- Greet newcomers and make sure they can follow the meeting
- Set up the hearing loop, microphones or captioning before a meeting
- Find and schedule speakers such as audiologists, FTRI and hearing loop installers
- Keep the chapter's email list and social media current
- Table at local health fairs and community events
- Serve as a chapter officer or coordinator
- Help a support group become a full HLAA chapter
What to expect
A reply from a real person
A board member reads every application and follows up the way you asked: text, call or email.
Accessible meetings
Online meetings are captioned. Tell us on the form if you need a hearing loop, CART, an ASL interpreter or something else.
A role that fits your time
Some volunteers give an hour a month. Some give a day a week. Both are useful. You set the pace.
No cost to you
Volunteering is free. Membership is encouraged but not required to volunteer.
Apply to be a volunteer
Complete the form and we will be in touch. Questions? Email info@hla-fl.org or call (727) 219-2164.
Common questions
Are there volunteer opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing near me?
Yes. HLAA has chapters and support groups in several Florida communities, and each one is run by volunteers. Use our chapter directory to find the nearest group and ask what they need. If no group is close to you, state-level roles such as communications, advocacy and technology support can be done from home.
Do I need to know ASL to volunteer with the deaf community?
No. Most HLAA members are hard of hearing adults who use hearing aids, cochlear implants, captions and hearing loops rather than sign language. ASL skills are welcome and useful at outreach events, but they are not required for any role. Clear speech, patience and a willingness to repeat yourself matter more.
Does volunteering with HLAA-FL count as community service?
Usually, yes. HLAA-FL is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and we can confirm your volunteer hours in writing for school, scholarship, court or employer programs. Tell us on the application if you need documentation, and mention the deadline so we can plan the hours with you.
How much time does volunteering take?
As much or as little as you have. Helping at one event might take a morning. Writing for the newsletter might take a couple of hours a month. Board service takes more and is a commitment for a term. Tell us on the form how much time you can give and we will suggest roles that fit.
Can students volunteer with HLAA-FL?
Yes. Audiology, speech-language pathology, interpreting, nursing and education students are especially welcome, and so are high school students who need service hours. Students often help with events, social media, captioning tests and outreach tables. Let us know your school and any hour requirements on the form.
Prefer to talk first?
Email info@hla-fl.org, call (727) 219-2164, or text 7272710770. Tell us what you would like to do and we will find the right role.