Hearing Loss Association of America

Keynote Speaker, Howard Weinstein, Inventor of Solar Ear

After a series of life-changing events, Howard took a volunteer position with the World University Service of Canada to work at Camp Hill Community Trust, a community for people with disabilities in Botswana. During his four years at Camp Hill, Howard implemented the startup company Godisa Technologies, where he employed persons with hearing loss and physical disabilities. Through Godisa, Howard produced three new products: a solar energy powered hearing aid, an analog solar charger, and a rechargeable battery. The innovation of these products won Godisa an International Design Award for the best product in Africa in 2005. Within three years, Godisa manufactured more than sixty thousand hearing aids and became financially sustainable. After four years in Botswana, Howard went to Brazil to replicate his social business. Howard employs people who are deaf to manufacture hearing aids run on new solar-powered battery technology, freeing hearing aid users from the economic burden of buying regular zinc batteries at $1 per week. Through the broad distribution of these hearing aids, especially to children at a critical time in their development of speech and cognitive abilities, Howard will create new access to hearing aids and improved social integration for the largely excluded population of low-income people with hearing loss in the developing world.

Howard's keynote speech will take place during the Opening Session, Thursday, June 27, 5 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

For a look at other speakers click here.