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Photo: April Corner, author of What’s Your Superpower and My Journey
In conversation with author April Corner
Gordana Mosher, CHHA Manager Accessibility Projects & Communications, recently connected with author April Corner, who shared her hearing loss journey and her mission to help others feel confident as they navigate through their hearing loss.
April was diagnosed in 2016 when she was 25 years old with Otosclerosis. She said it had been a long journey for her, but she remains confident with her hearing loss and wants to ensure others feel the same way. She recently published a series of books and journals available for purchase on CHHA estore.
Gordana: Tell us about yourself
April: I work for a Canadian company called Pilates on Demand as their Director of Marketing and Communications. It has been a great experience to work with a small team that is very accommodating. Since I joined the team, we have been making sure our content is more accessible and inclusive, and almost all of our classes have captions. I identify as a female, sister, mom-to-be, artist, writer, hard of hearing person.
Gordana: You are a published author share with us more about your book and journal.
April: During the Spring/Summer of 2020, I was in a low place, especially with all the mask mandates. My hearing loss had declined even more, and I wanted to change my energy and outlook. So I decided to start a passion project, which turned into my first book – What’s Your Superpower. I noticed many of the young kids in my life were fascinated with my hearing aids, so I wanted to keep that conversation going. I wrote What’s Your Superpower to help parents start conversations surrounding people with disabilities. My notebook and reflection journal were other projects that I started to continue to help myself cope with my hearing loss. There are many good and bad days all tangled together, and it is crucial to find different things that help you through them.
Gordana: What inspired you to publish the books?
April: I am on a mission to spread awareness, create conversations, and end the hearing loss stigma. That is where my inspiration for everything I do comes from.
Gordana: What message would you like to share with individuals navigating through their journey.
Have patience with your friends and family because as much as it is an adjustment for you, it is also an adjustment for them.
April :Take it one day at a time. You will have a lot of bad days, and that’s okay! Let yourself have bad days. Have patience with your friends and family because as much as it is an adjustment for you, it is also an adjustment for them. It is also essential to find someone comfortable speaking with about your hearing loss so that you don’t have to navigate or go through it alone. Like I say in all of my videos, my emails and dm’s are always open. It can make a difference having someone going through a similar journey as a part of your life. (hardtohearit@gmail.com or @hardtohearit)
Gordana: Share what you think are the misunderstood misconceptions people do not know about hard of hearing individuals.
April: Since beginning my hearing loss journey, the biggest misconception that surprised me was how people assume you can hear perfectly with your hearing aids. My hearing aids work most of the time, BUT just because I heard you today does not mean I will be able to hear you tomorrow.
Gordana: You are very engaging on social media. Do you find this platform an excellent tool to get your messages across to individuals to learn more about people who are hard of hearing, such as yourself?
April: I really do! I only started my channel back in September 2021, and the amount of response I received has been incredible. I love being creative, which has allowed me to reach people all over the world. I receive messages every day from people sharing their stories with me, and it truly warms my heart to connect with others in the hearing loss community.
Gordana: What other exciting plans do you have in the future?
April: I launched a little shop called Hard To Hear It on April 1st (also my birthday 😛 ). I wanted to create some other products and make hearing aids part of our everyday conversations.
You can follow April on social media
YouTube – Hard To Hear It
Instagram – @hardtohearit
Facebook – Hard To Hear It
Email – hardtohearit@gmail.com
Website – https://hardtohearit.bigcartel.com/
Buy her books at CHHA Store