Bucks Babies Matter

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You’ve heard his voice.
You’ve probably never guessed this about him.

That iconic movie-trailer voice you recognize instantly?
That’s Pete Gustin, and he’s blind.

Pete is one of the most in-demand voice actors in the world, with credits for Netflix, Marvel, Hulu, ESPN, and more. But when he’s not behind the mic, he’s doing something else people often assume blind people can’t do…

He surfs.

Guided by sound, rhythm, and trust, Pete takes on waves the same way he takes on his career—with confidence, skill, and zero interest in limiting expectations.

His story is a powerful reminder: accessibility isn’t about lowering the bar—it’s about removing it.

🎧🌊 Drop a comment if this surprised you.
Share this to spotlight blind talent breaking barriers—in and out of the studio.

Happy father’s day to all the dads out there

Hey, dads of kids with hearing loss, you’re our super-HEAR-oes!

This Father’s Day weekend, we're celebrating you!

You may be wondering:
What will the future hold for my child?
What are the best ways to support them in their hearing loss journey?

Watch this video to hear dads of children with hearing loss talk about their experiences. Each of them has made an amazing impact on their child’s Listening and Spoken Language journey.

https://bit.ly/42xVyM0

Blind and low-vision fans now have a new way to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup through haptic devices that let them feel the match in real time. As part of FIFA’s accessibility efforts, the technology brings fans closer to the action and makes the stadium experience more accessible. The devices simulate live matches, with units deployed in stadiums in Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Seattle, and Vancouver for select matches.

Read more: fifa.fans/4gfgnX8.

Family Feedback Early Intervention Hearing, Vision, Orientation and Mobility Services

A little side project I'd like to share!

Over the past few years, graduate students in Western University's Speech-Language Pathology program and I have been developing a growing library of free microlearning modules called Sound Steps.

The modules focus on practical strategies for individuals with hearing loss, families, teachers, and professionals. They include videos, downloadable resources, and interactive activities like the one shown below.

While many of my Troll in a Bowl followers work in areas beyond hearing loss, some of you may support children or adults who wear hearing aids or remote mic systems.

Current modules address topics such as:

• Remote microphone use in classrooms
• Supporting hearing aid use in preschool settings
• Communication strategies for couples managing hearing loss
• Helping babies with hearing loss listen and learn
• Language development through daily routines
• Hearing technology management and self-advocacy for teens

Feel free to explore, share with colleagues, or pass along to anyone who might find the resources useful.

www.soundsteps.ca

And if you have ideas for future topics, I'd love to hear them!

☀️Summer-- it's so much fun with the beach trips, playing outside, swimming, but it can sure take a toll on our hearing devices.

Before you take a trip to the audiologist's office, you can troubleshoot at home with these 5 tips! I can speak from experience because I very much use and value my sound and communication ability- so what do I do when I can't get to an office? Troubleshoot myself.

Here's the list:

🔋Batteries⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Check disposable battery life and also check if the entire package is bad⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Humidity can cause stickers to peel off which drains the batteries⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Check rechargeable contacts, charger/cables⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Check battery contacts/connections⁣⁣⁣⁣

🎤Microphone covers⁣⁣⁣⁣
-These can get dusty or damp with sweat or hair spray/styling product⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Can cause a staticky or crackling sound⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Replace parts if I have back up⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🦻Earmold tubing (hearing aids)⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Moisture and cerumen can build up inside⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Can harden and clamp shut; especially the tubing length inside the earmold/canal.

I always pull this out of the earmold to double check. This can also cause red/soreness inside the canal if it hardens/shrinks at an angle⁣⁣⁣⁣ -Use a hair dryer carefully to heat up/soften the tubing if it's hardened tight around the earhook to remove⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣

🦻CI cable⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Broken cables can cause crackling/static sounds; try to run wire between fingers to elicit⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Hopefully I have a back up or am still under warranty to send in to company myself⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣

💦Moisture⁣⁣⁣⁣
-Always put devices in my Dry&Store kit while sleeping at night and after sweaty workouts!⁣⁣⁣⁣

Note: These examples are based upon my PERSONAL experience and devices. I'd love to hear your side! Do you have other troubleshooting advice? Please, drop it below!

Someone shared with me this week that a school had adopted the concept of ‘mullet classrooms’ to support learning.

Mullet, as in the mullet hairstyle. Business at the front and party at the back.

This is a brilliant concept and would be so beneficial for children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI).

Keep the learning spaces at the front of the classroom visually clutter free, so that it is easier to focus and process the learning material.

At the back of the classroom, have the artwork and other displays that are important in the classroom. But at the back, they won’t distract attention from the learning.