This Veterans Day, we honor the millions who have served in the armed forces and recognize the ongoing challenges some face long after service—including hearing loss. For Air Force veteran Fred Williams, those challenges became an opportunity to champion accessible communication for all.
Fred’s journey from military service to advocacy is one of resilience, adaptability, and deep commitment. In our conversation, he shares not only his own experience but also the tools, people, and communities that helped shape his path—and how he’s paying it forward today.
Editor’s Note (November 2025): On this Veterans Day, we extend our deepest gratitude to all veterans and their families. Hearing loss is one of the most common service-connected disabilities. If you or a veteran you know is navigating hearing loss, support and resources are available through organizations like the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other veteran support networks.
Q: Could you share a bit about your journey with hearing loss?
A: My journey with hearing loss began in 1983 while serving at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. When I retired from the Air Force in 1988, the Washington, D.C. Veterans Administration audiology clinic helped fit me with hearing aids. As my hearing continued to decline, I reached out to the Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC), a nonprofit dedicated to people with hearing loss.
Losing my hearing made it harder to work and connect with others, which was isolating at times. Through NVRC, I met Joe Duarte, now Co-CEO at InnoCaption. With encouragement from my wife Pat and the Duartes, I decided to pursue cochlear implants. My first implant in 2011 and second in 2014 greatly improved my understanding of speech and renewed my sense of connection.
"My own persistent need for accessibility solutions… is a driving force for my advocacy, but I’m also motivated by the increasing awareness that there are many people like me who have no advocates."
For Fred, discovering supportive technology was a turning point in staying connected.
Q: When did you first hear about InnoCaption?
A: Years ago, Joe Duarte told me he’d joined a team developing a new cell phone captioning service. He invited me on board as a hard-of-hearing person to help advocate for FCC approval. I’ve been using InnoCaption since it launched in 2014.
Q: What made you choose InnoCaption?
A: I appreciated InnoCaption’s approach to transcribing speech and managing captioned calls. Staying connected on the go was important for me, and my trust in Joe and the InnoCaption team made it an easy choice.
Q: How does InnoCaption help you in your daily life?
A: InnoCaption is an essential tool for me. It provides responsive, accurate captions, lets me save important conversations, and offers great support. Everyday challenges—like automated menus, quick talkers, or unclear accents—are so much easier to handle with captions. InnoCaption turns complicated calls into opportunities to connect and resolve issues with confidence.
"InnoCaption provides responsive and accurate captions... It’s available anytime, anywhere."
Building on his experiences, Fred now works to empower others throughout the hearing loss community.
Q: Can you share about your advocacy work with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing?
A: I’m proud to be part of the Hard of Hearing Task Force, sponsored by the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ACDHH). Our goal is to ensure all hard-of-hearing Arizonans are educated and empowered to advocate. Support from leaders like Christy Abrams and Michele Michaels means our community gets the info and tools we need. Working with other dedicated advocates inspires me, and it’s fulfilling to reach and support even more people.
Q: What motivates you to be such a strong advocate?
A: My personal experience drives me to seek accessibility, but I’m also motivated by the knowledge that many people have no one to speak up for them. This journey has shown me that education and constructive action can make real change. I’d also be lost without my wife, Pat, who’s supported me every step. In our community, we encourage people to speak up about their needs—you’ll often find people are happy to help when they know how. With 48 million Americans living with some degree of hearing loss, every effort, however small, truly matters.
"It’s a hearing loss community mantra that you need to tell people what you need. You might be surprised how helpful people can be once they know what you need."
Managing hearing loss can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. These trusted organizations and resources provide information, support, and community for veterans and anyone experiencing hearing difficulties:
Fred’s dedication proves that with the right tools and a supportive community, connection is always possible. We thank Fred Williams for his advocacy—and extend our deepest appreciation to all veterans and their families.
Are you ready to connect with confidence? Get Started with InnoCaption.
Minah Han is a marketing professional dedicated to advancing accessible communication solutions for the deaf and hard of hearing community. At InnoCaption, she leverages her expertise in digital marketing and storytelling to amplify the voices of individuals who rely on innovative technologies for everyday conversations. Minah is passionate about bridging the gap between technology and accessibility, helping to drive awareness and education around captioned calling solutions.
InnoCaption provides real-time captioning technology making phone calls easy and accessible for the deaf and hard of hearing community. Offered at no cost to individuals with hearing loss because we are certified by the FCC. InnoCaption is the only mobile app that offers real-time captioning of phone calls through live stenographers and automated speech recognition software. The choice is yours.
InnoCaption proporciona tecnología de subtitulado en tiempo real que hace que las llamadas telefónicas sean fáciles y accesibles para la comunidad de personas sordas y con problemas de audición. Se ofrece sin coste alguno para las personas con pérdida auditiva porque estamos certificados por la FCC. InnoCaption es la única aplicación móvil que ofrece subtitulación en tiempo real de llamadas telefónicas mediante taquígrafos en directo y software de reconocimiento automático del habla. Usted elige.
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