ALDA traces its roots to a self-help support group for late-deafened adults that formed in Chicago in 1985. Two years later, members of the self-help group organized a social gathering of late-deafened people. Although most of these people were strangers, they found themselves comfortable with each other. The good feelings of that evening led to friendships, more social gatherings and a newsletter that consolidated the group. ALDA had arrived. That was the beginning of what is now known as the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA). ALDA Chicago is the founding organization of ALDA Inc., an international organization which includes chapters and groups throughout the USA, Canada and overseas.

The Chicago Chapter of the Association of Late-Deafened Adults (ALDA Chicago) is committed to support, educate, and advocate on behalf of people who grew up with intact hearing and became deaf as adults. ALDAns can no longer understand speech without visual clues or rely on their hearing as a means of receptive communication. Instead, ALDAns must depend on assistive devices and alternate modes of communication such as speech reading, sign language and/or text reading.

ALDA Chicago's mission is to provide support, education and camaraderie for adults with hearing loss. For more information, please check out our website at www.deafvision.net/alda-chicago.