The Oticon Focus on People Awards honor remarkable individuals who break barriers, shift perceptions, and open doors for people with hearing loss.
Brenda Schmidt was one of three people Oticon honored this year for creating a better world for those with hearing loss. She is not only an author — Brenda wrote, She Heard Her Footsteps —and advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, but she's also a generous donor to SSHC, giving a portion of her book sales to SSHC.
As part of her award, Brenda nominated Sertoma Speech & Hearing Centers to receive $1,000.
Brenda Schmidt presents her award to Dr. Christy Brand.
The Oticon Focus on People Award recognizes more than just individual achievement—it highlights transformative stories of advocacy. In Brenda's case, the award committee's own words capture the depth of her impact:
"Brenda is a tireless champion for inclusion and empowerment. Her passion for self-advocacy led her to a career where she could show others with hearing loss that they could achieve and excel. Through her many years as a Hearing Services Coordinator for Chicagoland school districts, she succeeded in positively impacting the lives of thousands of students with hearing loss and their families. Today, Brenda is an adjunct professor at Illinois State University, introducing future educators to the deaf and hard-of-hearing visual English sign systems needed to teach children with hearing loss to learn and read English. Brenda recently authored She Heard Her Footsteps, a children’s book based on her first experiences with hearing aids – a valued resource for families navigating the process of obtaining hearing aids for their children. Charity: Sertoma, Inc." —Oticon 2025 Focus on People Awards
Brenda Schmidt receiving the Oticon Focus on People Award
Congratulations, Brenda! Thank you for your dedication, tireless advocacy, and generosity.
