Catholics with Hearing Loss: Captioning the Catholic Mass

                     FCC, the deaf and hard of hearing,  
                                          and the Church

  

            "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)

Churches are exempt if they qualify regarding FCC compliance.  Churches have budgets,  priorities and missions to accomplish.  But do churches realize that 1 in 5 Americans have a hearing loss?  Where do these people fit in?  Somehow they have fallen in the cracks. 

FCC denied certain churches exempt status from closed captioning.  However, if those churches understood that 20 percent of the population has a significant hearing loss, perhaps REACHING OUT to these people might be a good thing in sharing the gospel to others by being inclusive.    After all, that's the whole point isn't it -to share the Joy of the Gospel?  Have they thought about that?

That has to be a plus when a church 'cuts the roof'  to let those who are deaf/Deaf, hard of hearing,  or hearing impaired hear the Word of God.  Sharing the gospel to this population is a good thing, especially considering that the majority of those with hearing loss,  according to many sources do not attend church because it is not accessible to them.  To deny them closed captioning programs would only further exclude them.

Aside from following laws, it denies them access to

God's word which is at the heart of this.   This isn't any more different then  denying someone who uses a wheelchair to get into the door.  We can't hear God's word if the words are not captioned which basically has the affect of

closing the doors on the deaf/Deaf, hard of hearing, hearing impaired population.

If churches want to be inclusive for this population, they need to have captioning.

See http://www.3playmedia.com/2015/08/18/fcc-denies-closed-captioning-exemption-for-churches/  

      

            Captioning Shares the Message

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"It's not enough to know Christ, we must bring him to everyone!" - Pope St. John Paul II

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Captioning the Word:  http://captioningtheword.com

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This Catholic church has real time captioning (CART) for the deaf and hard of hearing:

"St. Theresa Catholic Church in Ashburn, VA:  HOMILY REAL-TIME TRANSLATION SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE VIA iPAD – Are you not hearing the Sunday mass homily as well as you’d like?  Especially for the hearing impaired and deaf but open to all, you now have an amazing option to receive the Sunday mass homily, prayers of the faithful, and announcements via real-time translation (CART service) directly to your iPAD during mass!  St. Theresa parishioner and professional court reporter Donna L. Linton has volunteered to provide the service (just like closed captioning on your television).  Please contact Donna at CARTsttheresa@aol.com for information on mass times and how to join in. " 

(Source:  http://www.nvrc.org/2014/11/real-time-translation-service-now-available-via-ipad-at-st-theresa-catholic-church-in-ashburn-va/)

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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.” 

(Source:  http://tfwm.com/opening-up-services-with-closed-captioning/)

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Welcome !    See  http://www.catholicscomehome.org

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This is a wonderful resource for understanding

 Catholicism called Catholic Bridge.  

See http://www.catholicbridge.com

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What is the Catholic Mass?:  http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/mass.php

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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…"

(Source: http://www.dioslc.org/ministries/disabilities/guidelines-for-accommodating-people-with-disabilities)

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Demo of Real time Captioning (aka Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART):  http://www.acscaptions.com/subpages/CART.asp  (scroll down to find demo video, click on CC)

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                          Pray For Us All!

See: http://catholicbridge.com/catholic/mary_do_catholics_pray_to_her.php

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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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"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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"Accessible meeting space allows 






everyone to participate." 





(Source: http://www.ada.gov/business/accessiblemtg.htm





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More churches are adding real time captioning:

"Aldersgate United Methodist Church provides open real time captions during both 9 am and 10:30 am Sunday morning worship services. A CART (computer assisted real time translation) professional sits in worship and silently types everything she hears…"  

(Source:  https://www.facebook.com/aumctustin/notes)



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The increasing demands of real time captioning





 and broadcast captioning is driven by two





 forces:








 See:   http://www.dcmp.org/caai/nadh78.pdf











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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

CC-Caption Catholic