Can You Hear in Church? - Catholics with Hearing Loss:
Captioning the Catholic Mass
Captioning the Catholic Mass
Can You Hear in Church?
"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."
-St. Francis of Assisi
-St. Francis of Assisi
If you are Catholic, and have a hearing loss --- Can you participate in Lay Responses at Mass? Understand the Homily? Understand The Prayer of the Faithful Universal Prayers? (Lord, Hear our Prayer) and join them in communion of intercessory prayers? (Prayer of the Faithful: http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-word/universal-prayer.cfm)
Can you understand the announcements? Do you know what blessings are being said? Can you participate in group prayers in RCIA? Bible Studies? participate in Station of the Cross Group Prayers? participate in Rosary Group Prayers? Adoration Group Prayers?
Do they provide DVD's in their Bible Studies and Faith Formations, RCIA that have subtitles or closed captioning on them?
Do they have accessible confession booths (communication devices) for those with hearing loss?
Can you participate at Catholic conferences, workshops and retreats?
Do they provide communication access that work for you such as Captioning (CART or remote CART, sign language or audio loops/FM's) at these workshops and retreats or conferences or group studies and group prayer groups?
Would you like to have access to God's word? Is it important and meaningful for you to have this access in place at churches? What are the benefits derived from having access in church? Are you missing out on anything being said in church? Do you know you are missing out on things being said? This might seem like a stupid question but it really isn't. For me, I learned I was missing a lot once I had full, effective and equal communication access. Before, I knew I was missing some things, but I didn't know I was missing so much until I had effective communication access which was real time captioning.
Can you understand the announcements? Do you know what blessings are being said? Can you participate in group prayers in RCIA? Bible Studies? participate in Station of the Cross Group Prayers? participate in Rosary Group Prayers? Adoration Group Prayers?
Do they provide DVD's in their Bible Studies and Faith Formations, RCIA that have subtitles or closed captioning on them?
Do they have accessible confession booths (communication devices) for those with hearing loss?
Can you participate at Catholic conferences, workshops and retreats?
Do they provide communication access that work for you such as Captioning (CART or remote CART, sign language or audio loops/FM's) at these workshops and retreats or conferences or group studies and group prayer groups?
Would you like to have access to God's word? Is it important and meaningful for you to have this access in place at churches? What are the benefits derived from having access in church? Are you missing out on anything being said in church? Do you know you are missing out on things being said? This might seem like a stupid question but it really isn't. For me, I learned I was missing a lot once I had full, effective and equal communication access. Before, I knew I was missing some things, but I didn't know I was missing so much until I had effective communication access which was real time captioning.
"A person with hearing loss may not even realize how much information is being shared. One contributor did not discover how many “holes” there were in her understanding of classroom lectures and discussion until she received computer-assisted realtime translation (CART) services, which provided her with a live verbatim transcript. "- See more at: http://www.listeningandspokenlanguage.org/Document.aspx?id=1521#sthash.KposjVsP.dpuf
Too many people hide their hearing loss. Giving this up and not asking for effective communication access is not a sacrifice IMO if it doesn't nurture your faith. In fact, it might lead to 'drop out' . In fact, that is exactly what has happened since only 4-10 percent of those with ANY form of hearing loss attend church. They are more inclined to just drop out then request access. If they request access and it is denied to them, they also are more likely to just leave -at least 90+ percent of them. Why is church attendance so low among the deaf and hard of hearing compared to the average Catholic attending Mass? Is the church welcoming these people? Are you asking for access? This kind of access is intended for faith formation and to grow in your faith, like the mustard seed, and connect to the community of faith, enter in more deeply, grasp the homily, absorb the intercessory prayers and pray with the congregation, as well as professing and sharing together in the celebration of the Mass (and Bible study groups and other group prayers in the Catholic church). Can You do that?
“If they can’t hear where it matters most, they go home,” Diephouse said. (Source: http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/02/area_churches_other_facilities.html)
Do you find yourself not signing up for these things when you see it listed in the Church bulletin because YOU KNOW you will be unable to participate? Do you find yourself not bothering to sign up for something because YOU KNOW communication access will not be available for you or you don't want to request it?
"Many are unwilling to identify themselves due to the stigma of hearing loss, or they may deny having such a loss. They are often unaware of the assistive devices and techniques that could improve communication. Their communication needs are often ignored, which may interfere with their understanding of their condition and its treatment." (Source: http://healthbridges.info/?p=333)
“… people over 65, that is 80% of people over 65, that is your mothers, your fathers, your older friends, your older relatives, [have] some sort of hearing loss. Here is an important message to you and to them. Only 50% percent of them do something about it. The rest have kind of ignored [it]. This must not happen." ?- See more at: http://chchearing.org/blog/what-does-severe-hearing-loss-feel-like/#sthash.8dYXKEOm.dpuf
You need to ask for effective communication access that works for you. If it is denied or dismissed, or if you find your request being ignored, you need to keep raising awareness and self advocate, which will actually help others while helping yourself. The church needs to be aware that many people do not have access to God's word. That are not being included in the liturgy of the Mass celebration with the congregation.
Together, we can make the church more accessible to those with hearing loss, and not just the Mass and Confessionals but other parts of church life as well. Captioning (CART or remote CART), Sign Language and Audio loops are the three most common effective communication access. All three need to be in place in churches as a Universal access approach in order to reach out to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing, and not just one segment of the deaf and hard of hearing population.
"An obvious benefit of closed captioning is to allow everyone to have an equal opportunity to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity."
Together, we can make the church more accessible to those with hearing loss, and not just the Mass and Confessionals but other parts of church life as well. Captioning (CART or remote CART), Sign Language and Audio loops are the three most common effective communication access. All three need to be in place in churches as a Universal access approach in order to reach out to all those who are deaf and hard of hearing, and not just one segment of the deaf and hard of hearing population.
"All of us are covered by the ADA. This is not about a preference, a personal choice, or the opinion of one over another or over a majority." (Source: http://network.crcna.org/disability-concerns/q-ada-church-and-americans-disabilities-act)
As to confession, are you able to use 'the right for privacy' granted to hearing people who wish to use the screen if you desire it? Sure, there is face to face. We could all use face to face, hearing people too. Certainly its good to do. But if you wanted to exercise the right to privacy that Canon law grants for hearing people, do you ask for that kind of access or advocate for it? Raise awareness? This will not only help you, but it will help so many others when you let the church know that it is not accessible for those with hearing loss. We need to make the church aware that those with hearing loss and deafness often do not have accessible confessionals or Masses for them if Captioning, Sign Language and Audio Loops are not provided for the diverse hearing loss population with diverse communication access needs. Captioning is a wonderful way to share the Joy of the Gospel to the widest audience within the spectrum of hearing loss, and many other disabilities too. If one can read and speak, one can benefit from captioning (CART or remote CART).
If you have a hearing loss have you pondered on the below Canon law regarding confessionals and how it might relate to you, especially privacy at Confessionals? The confessionals need to be accessible for those with hearing loss by having proper communication access in place that considers the use of the screen such as Ubi Duo keyboards, or a bank teller drawer or slit that allows the passing back and forth of iPhones, iPads, laptops or pen and paper through screens. The St. Damien confessional box (which is a work in progress right now) is also another consideration in making the confessional more accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing and other populations to create a more accessible confessional for many people.
"Canon law requires that the confessional be inside the church, visible, accessible to every possible penitent, and open for private and face-to-face confession, Father De la Rosa said. He has posted the canon law requirements, and the U.S. bishops’ directive on the sacrament with the construction plans in the church lobby." ( Source: http://www.catholic-sf.org/ns.php?newsid=24&id=61939#sthash.jBadAlsU.dpuf)
As to Mass; Can You do what the Church commands Catholics to do "….that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy" at stated by the Catholic church/Vatican II? Be sure to ask for effective communication access! If effective communication access is denied, keep raising awareness and advocacy for what effective communication access is that allows for full and equal access. Effective access is access that allows full and active participation. With the voice of many, together we can make sure they hear us so that we can hear the Word of God.
Captioning the Mass allows for 'full, conscious and active participation' per Vatican II, as a two directional communication access which is effective, by reading the captioning receptively, and responding to it expressively, if one is able to read and speak.
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Why is Captioning considered a Universal Design Communication Access?:
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Real time captioning:
"Typically, the service is geared toward the hearing impaired.
"What is driving the demand is the baby boomers," said Fred Sharp, president of the Chartered Shorthand Reporters Association of Ontario."
(Source: http://www.thestar.com/news/2007/11/29/speedy_court_reporters_flying_fingers_in_high_demand.html)
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Inclusivity for all: See https://www.captionfirst.com/Universal_Design
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What do the deaf and hard of hearing use for Communication Access?:
ASL (American Sign Language) is used by the Culturally Deaf in the USA, CART (real time captioning) or its newer tech version called Remote CART is used by the late deaf, oral deaf and severe to profound hearing loss, ALD's (Assistive Listening Devices) are used by the hard of hearing (mild and moderate hearing loss). Captioning (CART) can sometimes be used by the culturally Deaf but you need to ask them first. The Hard of Hearing (mild and moderate) can also use captioning but they usually prefer Audio Loops. Again, you need to ask them first. Yes, I know I keep saying this through out my blog. We are diverse you see. We need to break the sound barriers for everyone so they can fully and actively participate and share the Joy of the Gospel to all.
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"A general rule of thumb is to ask whether people are able to access the facility and, once in, is effective communication happening?" (Source: https://hsdcstore.com/adasystems.htm)
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Captioning in church services:
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Lets pray that we break the
communication barriers for all!
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"Catholics with disabilities are much
more likely to be inactive Catholics
than their non-disabled counterparts."
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" Listening is a most important form of
active participation."
(Source: http://www.catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/ArticleText/Index/65/SubIndex/120/ArticleIndex/35)
Listening is very active and not being a spectator and just sitting there. Having Access to God's Word means you can connect to the message. Captioning connects you to the message and gives you access so you can fully and actively participate at the Mass in the same time and space with the congregation with real time captioning like any other interpretative services.
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Thanks for Listening: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2011/12/thanks-for-listening-a-christmas-homily/
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"We depend on captions for television, movies, relay phone calls, live theater and meetings, etc. However, captions are lacking at churches and synagogues. As a result we no longer attend. We feel excluded from the spiritual communities." (Source: http://xpressivehandz.blogspot.com/2014/07/why-churches-and-synagogues-need-to.html)
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"The ADA calls us to be aware of and correct what we do that unnecessarily excludes people"
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"A sobering thought for religious leaders is that 90% of those with a hearing impairment may not attend services due to an inability to hear and participate." (Source: http://premiervisualvoice.com/index.php/blog/16-blog-8)
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Real time Captioning, Sign Language and Audio loops are the three most common communication access used by the deaf and hard of hearing in secular business, education and entertainment settings. It would be nice if it was also being provided in churches even though the church is ADA exempt. The hearing loss and deafness population is diverse so all three most common communication access needs to be in place.
About 10 percent estimated of the hearing loss population benefit from sign language (3 percent are native/primary users and 7 percent estimate are acquired/bilingual for a total estimate of 10 percent ), about 40 to 60 percent estimated of the hearing loss population benefit from Captioning, and about 70 to 80 percent estimated can benefit from Audio Loops (assuming they are wearing hearing aids and cochlear implants with T coils so this is more in theory). However in reality; 1 in 5 Americans with hearing loss who can benefit from a hearing aid wear one. 1 in 4 deaf adult Americans who can benefit from a cochlear implant wear a cochlear implant. 25 percent of hearing aids do not have T coils in them. Many people with more severe and profound hearing losses who do wear hearing aids and do have T coils in them often find the Audio Induction loops not reliable for them or 'strong' enough. Captioning can also cover all these groups and thereby provide effective communication access. Technically though any one who can read (receptive) and speak (expressive) can benefit from Captioning so real time captioning can cover a wide user population within the spectrum of hearing loss.
Think those with mild and moderate hearing loss who most benefit from audio induction loops are wearing hearing aids? According to this:
"Only 14% of older adults with hearing loss use
hearing aids, according to estimates from a
nationwide survey.
The proportion dropped to fewer than 4% of people
with mild hearing loss across all age decades and
to fewer than 5% of adults ages 50 to 59,
irrespective of the severity of hearing loss."
(Source: http://www.awesomecapital.com/awesome-blog/most-hearing-impaired-adults-forgo-hearing-aids)
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" This {real time captioning} technology is primarily used by people who are late-deafened, oral deaf, hard-of-hearing,or have cochlear implants. Culturally deaf individuals also make use of CART in certain situations. " (Source: http://www.everyonecommunicates.org/methods/captioning.html)
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"A growing number of churches, synagogues
and other places of worship are adopting
closed captioning for hearing-impaired
congregants." (Source: http://www.stenotype.edu/news/stenographer-goes-church/#sthash.5tWSYgfx.dpuf)
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"…May the church be the place of God's mercy and love where everyone can feel themselves welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the good life of the Gospel. And in order to make others feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged, the church must have open doors so that all might enter. And we must go out of those doors and proclaim the Gospel." -Pope Francis
"CART {real time captioning} is classified as an assistive technology and is considered a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is a service provided in the academic setting for students with hearing impairment as well as in public settings such as conventions, churches, corporate meetings, funerals, police interrogations, etc. "
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Catholic Mass for the deaf and hard of hearing:
"For the Deaf or Hard of Hearing:
Arrange for seating the Deaf community in the
front, near the
speaker.
Arrange for interpreter or real time captioning
services at
least
two weeks in advance.
Utilize room amplification system or personal
amplification
system.
Provide all materials to the interpreter or CART
reporter one
week in advance.
Provide bright lighting. Avoid creating a special
atmosphere
with dim lighting."
(Source: http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/disabilities/guidelines-for-accommodating-people-with-disabilities)
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" If a house of worship is not doing CC,
however, then a major portion of the
dialogue will not be picked up by the
whole audience.”
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Hearing Loss Association of America – The Nation's Voice for people with hearing loss: See http://www.hearingloss.org
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The Association of Late Deafened Adults (really anyone deaf of any age onset): See http://www.alda.org
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The Rosary and the Bible: See http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/mary_rosary.php
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CaptionCatholic Tidbit:
"There are not a hundred people in America who hate the Catholic Church. There are millions of people who hate what they wrongly believe to be the Catholic Church — which is, of course, quite a different thing".
-Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
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Aggressive Secularism – a Fr. Baron video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5zaYDpiOj8
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Come Pray the Rosary with others - together Online: http://www.comepraytherosary.org
(text guided version offered to follow along)
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Why I'm Catholic: http://whyimcatholic.com
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How can we make the Catholic church accessible to ALL the deaf and hard of hearing?:
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"Having no captions is equivalent to stating 'people with disabilities may not enter.'" - See more at: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/legal/nad.php#sthash.6aKtVH0e.dpuf
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"Accessible meeting space allows
everyone to participate."
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“What a gift this will be for them now to have
the ability to follow along with the Scripture
readings and Mass prayers right along with us. "
(Source: http://www.todayscatholicnews.org/2015/03/closed-captioning-during-tv-mass-better-serves-faithful/)
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"Of all the barriers to full participation and inclusion, the barrier of unexamined attitudes is the most difficult to address," states Ginny Thornburgh, director of the American Association of People with Disabilities' Interfaith Initiative."
(Source: http://www.disabilitiesandfaith.org)
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US Bishop Statement:
'It is essential that all forms of the liturgy be completely accessible to people with disabilities, since these forms are the essence of the spiritual tie that binds the Christian community together'
(Source: http://www.disabilityawarenesstraining.com/component/content/article/3/40)
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The purpose of this blog is to raise Diversity Awareness among those with hearing loss and deafness, and to raise awareness that many with hearing loss are being excluded from full participation at the Mass if the church does not have Captioning. Catholics with hearing loss deserve the fullness of their faith. Does your Diocese/Archdiocese have at least one Mass service in Captioning at a church that one who benefits from it can reasonably travel to in order to fully and actively participate at the Mass? Contact your Diocese/Archdiocese - find it here: http://www.usccb.org/about/bishops-and-dioceses/all-dioceses.cfm.)
Is your church or Diocese/Archdiocese inclusive to all those with hearing loss and deafness by providing Real time Captioning, Sign Language and Audio Loops? If not - Diversity and Inclusion Awareness is needed in order to share the joy of the gospel by applying Universal Communication Access. It is very important to share the Word of God with everyone. Let's pray for that!
Prayer of Inclusion: http://www.ncpd.org/ministries-programs/spirituality/prayers
"Be not Afraid, Open Wide the Gates" - Pope St. John Paul II (Source: http://jp2forum.blogspot.com/2013/12/be-not-afraid-resounding-from-1531-to.html)
CC-CaptionCatholic
Important post in the interest of the deaf community. I've posted a link to it on my Captions for Churches page.
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