We recently connected with Valecia Adams and have shared our conversation below.
Valecia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Was there a defining moment in your professional career? A moment that changed the trajectory of your career?
Accepting and embracing my Hearing Loss
My defining moment and the backstory to starting my business began with a life-changing encounter at an audiologist office. After visiting several doctors without much success, I met a compassionate audiologist who not only allowed me to express my fears and worries but also made me feel less alone in my journey. On a subsequent visit to the same office, I met another African American woman who also had hearing loss. This was a pivotal moment, as I had never met another African American with hearing loss before. Her approach to me, her openness about her condition, and our subsequent conversation were profound turning points. I felt a wave of relief wash over me. I wasn’t alone. This encounter not only led me to accept my hearing loss but also to embrace it. I became involved in a group, started participating in activities, and began advocating for myself – something I hadn’t done before due to shame and embarrassment. Watching others in the group, particularly strong, resilient women sharing their experiences, gave me hope and confidence. This was the spark that ignited my desire to help others, particularly black women, deal with their hearing loss and create a vibrant lifestyle despite it. This was the start of my business journey – becoming a coach and a peer mentor to empower others in their journeys with hearing loss.
Valecia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Valecia Adams and I am hard of hearing. Despite being screened for hearing loss at a young age and not being diagnosed, I found academics and communication challenging. By the time I reached adulthood, I suspected that I might have hearing loss, however, after a traumatizing event, I went into full denial and refused to acknowledge the possibility. It took 20 years for me to accept and embrace my reality, which only happened after a chance meeting with another African American with hearing loss at my audiologist’s office.
I struggled with feelings of shame and embarrassment until I joined a group and met other women dealing with similar experiences. This gave me newfound hope and confidence. It marked a turning point in my life. I chose to not only accept my hearing loss but to embrace it, using my experience to help others on the same journey. I felt a strong desire to coach and mentor. I founded a non-profit organization named Empower and Hear for Women of Color with Hearing Loss. This organization provides education and resources to women of color managing hearing loss. Additionally, I run a coaching business, VAdams Coaching Services, specifically for working Black Women with hearing loss. My coaching business is all about empowering women of color who are managing hearing loss, helping them live a vibrant life despite their condition. I have created a unique coaching solution that provides unwavering support to those who may feel lost, shocked, or unprepared after being diagnosed with hearing loss. My solution can also help at any stage my client may be in their hearing loss journey. I graduated from Gallaudet University’s Deaf Hearing Loss Peer Mentor program and currently serve as the Vice-President of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) Los Angeles chapter. I am married and have children and grandchildren. In my leisure time, I enjoy spending time with family, shopping and traveling.
My coaching approach is really special. I don’t shy away from the tough conversations around hearing loss. I understand the shame, the guilt, and the reluctance many women may have about using hearing aids. I help them release these negative feelings, embrace their reality, and understand that hearing aids are an investment in their quality of life. But my support doesn’t stop there. I also guide my clients through understanding how the role of technology helps in managing their hearing loss and to encourage them to utilize the resources available. My main goal is to help my clients step out into the world, move around, and create a vibrant life without feeling isolated or left alone. My personal experience of living with hearing loss make my coaching offering truly unique. I’m here to educate my clients and teach self-advocacy skills. They can utilize the multitude of resources available to cope with their hearing loss and live their lives to the fullest.
Special Sauce
My unique approach involves fostering a safe space for clients to discuss hearing loss, a subject often deemed taboo or challenging. As a life and advocacy coach specializing in hearing loss, I share my personal experiences and conduct confidence-building activities and educational exercises. This approach assists clients on their individual paths, helping them shed the stigma of hearing loss, confidently embrace their identities, and increase their understanding of hearing loss.
My distinctive approach empowers my clients to value themselves and advocate for their needs. My strength lies in my ability to provide real-time feedback and strategies, as well as guiding my clients through their journeys. My service, “Walk it through, talk it through sessions,” is a testament to this, where I actively engage with my clients, listen to their experiences, share my experiences and provide them with the necessary resources such as, assistive listening devices, to navigate their challenges.
My personal experience with hearing loss and my identity as an African American woman distinguish me from others in the field, like life or confidence coaches. This blend of personal experience and professional training uniquely qualifies me to understand and tackle the specific challenges my clients encounter.
My resilience in adversity, is a commitment to self-advocacy, and the determination to live life to the fullest despite my hearing loss are inspirational. The key to my approach is educating, advocating, and using my life experiences to empower others facing similar challenges. In a world where many coaches may have the training but lack the personal experience, I stand out. My life story, my training, and my commitment to addressing the stigma around hearing loss are what set me apart. I offer a unique perspective and a tailored approach that is both effective and empowering.
I’m most proud of…
I take great pride in authoring and promoting my book, “And So She Hears!” A Short Story of a Black Woman’s Journey with Hearing Loss. This narrative encapsulates my personal odyssey as a Black woman navigating hearing loss. Through sharing my journey, I aim to empower others who are facing similar challenges. My book is available on Amazon.
In my book, I have meticulously documented the trials and triumphs that I’ve encountered throughout my journey with hearing loss. My intention behind sharing these experiences is to provide guidance and inspiration for others who are going through a similar struggle. With “And So She Hears!”, I hope to create a supportive community where we can all learn from each other and develop strategies to cope with hearing loss. The journey hasn’t always been easy, but it has certainly been worthwhile, and I am proud to be able to use my experience as a tool to help others. In other words, let’s normalize the narrative of hearing loss.
To further the cause, I have also undertaken advocacy work for those with hearing loss. I believe in the power of self-advocacy and the importance of knowing our rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Through coaching and confidence-building tools, I strive to help people with hearing loss stand up for themselves and have an engaging and inclusive life.
Education is another cornerstone of my work. By sharing information about hearing loss, I hope to dismantle misconceptions and stigma, while fostering understanding and empathy. This is a journey that I continue to walk, and each step forward is an opportunity to bring about change, both for myself and for others in the hearing loss community.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
When I first started my coaching business, I was under the impression that the black community would readily embrace my services. I believed that, being a black woman speaking about hearing loss, my business would be met with open arms. This belief stemmed from my own desire for such a service when I was navigating my own hearing loss journey. I had wished for a black community that could provide support and understanding.
However, I had to unlearn this initial assumption. The reality was different from my expectations. Despite my optimism, I found that many people from the black community were reluctant to discuss their hearing loss. Instead of seeking help, they preferred to keep their condition a secret, perhaps out of shame or fear of isolation. This was a heartbreaking realization for me. It was a stark contrast to what I had imagined, and it felt like a personal setback. I now know it takes a village.
However, this experience served as an “aha moment” for me, forcing me to reassess my approach. It helped me understand the deep-seated stigma surrounding hearing loss in the community and the need for sensitivity and patience in addressing it. This realization made me even more committed to breaking down these barriers and creating a safe space for people to discuss their hearing loss without fear or shame.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
In my book, “And So She Hears”, I recount numerous instances of resilience. One such story revolves around my initial diagnosis of hearing loss. Coming to terms with this gradual change was challenging, and it felt like I had hit a wall. However, after a time of grieving, and feeling sorry for myself, I decided to not let this setback define me, I decided to use it as a stepping stone. I took it upon myself to learn lip reading techniques and read extensively about coping mechanisms for hearing loss. By embracing my new reality, I was able to turn a seemingly insurmountable challenge into an opportunity for personal growth.
I share a collection of compelling narratives that exemplify resilience in the face of adversity. Another impactful story that I recount is my personal experience dealing with the denial of me having hearing loss. The process of coming to terms with this profound change was fraught with difficulty and confusion. However, from my initial visit to an audiologist to becoming the Vice President of a national hearing loss association, I exemplify making changes and shaping the life I desire, one small step at a time. I decided to perceive my hearing loss as a catalyst for change and growth. By accepting and embracing this reality of mine, I was able to transform my mindset and look for ways to seek opportunities for personal growth and self-improvement. This experience marked the beginning of my journey towards becoming a self-advocate and a voice for others in the hearing loss community, a role that I now embrace with pride and determination.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.valeciaadams.com
- Instagram: empowerandhear
Image Credits
Photographer for HLAA WALK4HEARING Event