Jonathan Ozek has never let his hearing difficulties stop him from achieving his goals. He used his knowledge and experience of being fully deaf in one ear and partially deaf in the other to educate young people about his condition through an exhibit at the Museum of Science’s Hall of Human Life.
The Lynnfield native partnered with the museum’s accessibility coordinator, Sylvie Rosenkalt, to bring the exhibit to life. According to Rosenkalt, the two first connected through the Hearing Loss Association of America several years ago. After a two-year development process, the exhibit launched in December 2023. It includes four distinct sections, each with interactive components aimed at educating visitors. The first section, “How Does Hearing Loss Happen?” features a puzzle diagram of the ear, demonstrating which parts affect hearing loss. The second section, “Hearing Safety,” highlights potential long-term risk factors in everyday life that could lead to hearing loss. The third section, “Communication,” plays a video of a bilingual teacher demonstrating lip reading and body language skills. It also offers advice on how to communicate more effectively with those who have hearing impairments. Finally, “Technology” features a transparent screen with physical objects and devices that assist people with hearing deficiencies, such as a cochlear implant and a vibrating alarm clock.
Ozek said he has received significant positive feedback since the exhibit launched.
“I’ve gotten a lot of feedback from friends, family, colleagues, everybody that has come here,” Ozek said. “I’m all about helping the community.”
Rosenkalt named the “Human Body Theatre” as the most popular part of the exhibit, which tells four different stories of individuals as they narrate their experiences with hearing impairment. Ozek’s story describes an instance in middle school when he was treated with prejudice during a field trip and excluded from activities. He credited his friend, Michael Paul LaFucci, for supporting him through that time.
“My message that I would like to give out is don’t give up and be strong,” Ozek said.
Ozek works as an accessibility business consultant, advising others with similar conditions on how to succeed and adapt in the workplace. He also does social media marketing for the HLAA. Additionally, he highlighted a time he worked with the Worcester Red Sox when the organization hosted a game dedicated to the deaf and hard of hearing.
