Can We Share the Joy of the Gospel?
  

                  

                             

                                     "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)

Are you reaching out to the deaf and hard of hearing by sharing the Joy of the Gospel with real time captioning at Mass?  Don't be afraid to make your church accessible. There is always room for one more in God's Church:  See

http://www.crisismagazine.com/2013/pope-francis-calls-all-catholics-to-evangelize

"I honestly feel that hearing impairment is much worse than my inability to walk, because it is so isolating. At least once I get to where I’m going, I can enjoy it thoroughly. Also, I think sometimes people feel that having a sign language interpreter satisfies the requirement to make a performance accessible for the hearing impaired, not realizing that the majority of people who lose their hearing as they age or from disease do not learn sign language"

 (Source:  https://broadwaydancecenter.wordpress.com/2012/05/21/hard-times-on-broadway-for-the-hard-of-hearing/)

Did you lose your Religion?:   This is a very insightful article by someone deaf and her experiences in church which is all too common of an experience with the majority of the deaf and hard of hearing when it comes to trying to find an accessible church.  So many of them are already gone.  The article is below at:

See  http://origin.misc.pagesuite.com/pdfdownload/7c11713b-7af4-45b3-86b6-2026d9ce54e4.pdf

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Why Real Time Captioning at
Church?

• "Sometimes referred to as oral deaf, they are not signing or "Big D" Deaf. They speak English, not American Sign Language because they’ve lost hearing late in life or, if the loss occurred in childhood, they’ve had speech training and wear hearing aids or a cochlear implant
• Oral deafness is "the invisible disability."  (Source:  http://www.theopencaptioners.com/faqs.php)

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The Joy of The Gospel is For All People:  

Watch this Video!!   Its awesome!  Click on CC to get it in Closed Captioned AND WATCH THE JOY!! 

See 

http://blogs.nd.edu/thecc/2014/04/14/joy-sr-cristina-and-evangelii-gaudium/

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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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Can we share the Joy of the Gospel?

Demo of Real time Captioning (aka Communication Access Realtime Translation (CART): 

 http://www.acscaptions.com/subpages/CART.asp  (scroll down to find the video demo, click on CC, then click play)

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Sharing Christ to Catholics:  

SEE  https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLbucCWUcVq31chD-7KWtajXkn-7&v=-ulDJwnKFbc 

 (click on CC for closed captioning communication access for the deaf and hard of hearing!)

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Rediscover the Faith:  http://www.catholicscomehome.org/discover-a-beautiful-faith/



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Why I'm Catholic:  http://whyimcatholic.com

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Caption Catholic Tidbits:

Hearing Loss Association of America – The Nation's Voice for people with hearing loss:  See http://www.hearingloss.org

The Association of Late Deafened Adults (really anyone deaf of any age onset):  See http://www.alda.org

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

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Are You a Former Catholic for Jesus?



This is a wonderful resource for unity and 

understanding  called Catholic Bridge.  


See http://www.catholicbridge.com

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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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                                      "Catholics with disabilities are much

                                                    more likely to be inactive Catholics

                                                   than their non-disabled counterparts."

                                   (Source:   http://www.adoremus.org/3-00-Tevington.html#sthash.zuG5hvks.dpuf)

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"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." 

(Source:  http://tfwm.com/captions-where-do-we-go-from-hear/)

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Captioning the Word:  http://captioningtheword.com

"Although many churches use sign language to convey

 a sermon to the deaf, others are using technology to

 translate each word so that it appears simultaneously

 on the big screen. "(Source  http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2001-06-16/lifestyle/0106150471_1_schick-fellowship-bible-church-born-deaf)

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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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"What does it mean for communication to be “effective”? Simply put, “effective communication” means that whatever is written or spoken must be as clear and understandable to people with disabilities as it is for people who do not have disabilities."

(Source: http://www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/chap3toolkit.htm)

Examples of Effective communication:   http://www.dartmouth.edu/~accessibility/effcomm/index.html

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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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"Accessible meeting space allows







everyone to participate." 









(Source and see more at: http://www.ada.gov/business/accessiblemtg.htm















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"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. "  



(Source:  https://www.universities.com/edu/Associate_degree_in_Realtime_Reporting_Broadcast_Captioning_CART_at_Clark_State_Community_College.html




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"And students are not the only users of cochlear implants who may benefit from CART services.  CART is frequently used in business meetings, religious services, and medical evaluations by people using cochlear implants."  

Source:  http://ccaptioning.com/tag/cochlear-implant/)




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"When designing a space or 


planning 


an event, we need to strive for 


universal access—so that all 


members of our communities can 


attend and participate. This means 


that, in addition to ramps and 


elevators, we need assistive 

listening technology like hearing 

loops and captions, and signage 



that makes it clear that the service 


is available. This is a goal that we 


can achieve, but in order to do so, 


we need to change the way we


 think about communication and 


hearing access. "



- See more at: http://agewisekin

gcounty.org/en/134/1/661/Too-Many-People-with-Hearing-Loss-Miss-Out.htm#sthash.em7Uhug6.nW91Nm7I.dpuf



(Source:  http://agewisekingcounty.org/en/134/1/661/Too-Many-People-with-Hearing-Loss-Miss-



Out.htm#sthash.em7Uhug6.dLa2G9JJ.dpuf)




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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

"Ensure that the power of salvation may be shared by all" (John Paul II, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, n. 16). "(Source:  http://www.ncpd.org/views-news-policy/policy/church/bishops/welcome-and-justice)

CC-Caption Catholic