Minneapolis, Minn. -- The University of Minnesota recently hosted more than 140 deaf and hard-of-hearing high school students from around the Midwest for its fifth annual Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Day. Williams Sound was pleased to participate as the event’s listening equipment supplier, providing Digi-Wave™ digital communication systems for staff and attendees to use throughout the day.


Organized by the university's Disability Services office, the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing event provides a developmental experience for students, according to Mari Magler, associate director in Disability Services. The event showcases the university's programming and services for deaf and hard-of-hearing students and encourages them to consider the university in their college searches.

“The event this year was fantastic,” says Magler. “We've been hosting this since 2006, and this was the largest audience to date. For the second year straight, Williams Sound generously donated Digi-Wave systems for the day. As a result, hard-of-hearing attendees could more fully participate in workshops and tours of the campus. And the students were excited by the new technology that allowed them to participate.”

The day was highlighted by words of encouragement and success stories from Karen Kaler, wife of University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler; from Signmark, international deaf rap artist from Finland and the first deaf person in the world to sign a record deal; and, of course, from Goldy Gopher, the University of Minnesota mascot!

Williams Sound is a global designer and manufacturer of wireless communication technology, serving personal and professional needs worldwide for more than 35 years. Williams Sound offers products and service for such commercial markets as hearing assistance, language interpretation, tour, corporate, education, government and house of worship.  These products include PROLOOP Induction Loop Systems, Digi-Wave™ Digital Communication Systems, Personal PA® FM Listening Systems, Portable Hearing Assistance Tour Guide Systems, SoundPlus® Infrared Systems and Hearing Helper® FM Listening Systems.