Who Are People with Hearing Loss, the deaf and hard of hearing at a Catholic Mass?
People with hearing loss and deafness are a diverse group of people with diverse communication needs. There are many ways to provide adequate access such as Captioning, Audio Loops and Sign language, but not everyone can use all three of them - usually, and some prefer other means as well.
If you are not sure what works for a person in terms of how they can actively, and fully participate at a Catholic Mass, you need to ASK them. Do NOT assume we all fit into one box in terms of communication access or fit neatly into a stereotype. There are many preconceived ideas and bias on what is 'effective' communication, or what the deaf and hard of hearing should use for communication access. We are a very diverse group.
Please do NOT provide them so-called access alternatives when they have clearly articulated to you what WORKS for them. Diversity Awareness is needed on what accommodations those with hearing loss and deafness use in order to allow for full and active participation. We need to move beyond 17 and 18th century, and into 21st century technology like Live real time Captioning and Audio Induction Loops which are available in today's world to enhance communication with full, conscious, and active participation.
Technology has allowed those with hearing loss to fully and actively participate is available in today's world. Many of us have embraced technology. The secular world has become more and more accessible with technology, using them, and is rapidly growing due to mandated ADA and FCC laws, including the 2010 ADA revision defining what 'effective communication' is.
Society as a whole has moved towards technology such as TVs, cell phones, microphones and sound systems, computers, iPads and the internet with increased global and personal communication access for all. Those with hearing loss and deafness are also embracing and moving towards technology, building bridges with increased communication access.
Captioning (in its many forms like open captioning, closed captioning, real time live captioning, CART, voice over, softwares etc) is frequently used in the secular world of business, entertainment and education. It is in high demand.
Is your church including this technology too? Sure, the church is ADA exempt but many people are missing out. Real time live Captioning is a wonderful way to share the Joy of the Gospel to many with hearing loss and deafness, especially since the largest population of the deaf are the late deaf who typically do not use sign language. The hard of hearing can also benefit as well.
Captioning (whether live real time captioning, open captioning, closed captioning) is a Universal Design Access which means it can offer benefits to the widest group of deaf and hard of hearing people and others too (auditory processing issues, seniors, learning disabilities, attention deficit etc).
Universal Design Access means more people can have access.
If you are not sure what works for a person in terms of how they can actively, and fully participate at a Catholic Mass, you need to ASK them. Do NOT assume we all fit into one box in terms of communication access or fit neatly into a stereotype. There are many preconceived ideas and bias on what is 'effective' communication, or what the deaf and hard of hearing should use for communication access. We are a very diverse group.
Please do NOT provide them so-called access alternatives when they have clearly articulated to you what WORKS for them. Diversity Awareness is needed on what accommodations those with hearing loss and deafness use in order to allow for full and active participation. We need to move beyond 17 and 18th century, and into 21st century technology like Live real time Captioning and Audio Induction Loops which are available in today's world to enhance communication with full, conscious, and active participation.
Technology has allowed those with hearing loss to fully and actively participate is available in today's world. Many of us have embraced technology. The secular world has become more and more accessible with technology, using them, and is rapidly growing due to mandated ADA and FCC laws, including the 2010 ADA revision defining what 'effective communication' is.
Society as a whole has moved towards technology such as TVs, cell phones, microphones and sound systems, computers, iPads and the internet with increased global and personal communication access for all. Those with hearing loss and deafness are also embracing and moving towards technology, building bridges with increased communication access.
Captioning (in its many forms like open captioning, closed captioning, real time live captioning, CART, voice over, softwares etc) is frequently used in the secular world of business, entertainment and education. It is in high demand.
Is your church including this technology too? Sure, the church is ADA exempt but many people are missing out. Real time live Captioning is a wonderful way to share the Joy of the Gospel to many with hearing loss and deafness, especially since the largest population of the deaf are the late deaf who typically do not use sign language. The hard of hearing can also benefit as well.
Captioning (whether live real time captioning, open captioning, closed captioning) is a Universal Design Access which means it can offer benefits to the widest group of deaf and hard of hearing people and others too (auditory processing issues, seniors, learning disabilities, attention deficit etc).
Universal Design Access means more people can have access.
Catholics With Hearing Loss Yahoo Forum Group
If you are Catholic with a hearing loss (mild to profound) and interested in
discussing with others about how to make the Mass and other parts of church
life more accessible, along with supporting one another spiritually - Subscribe at
If you are Catholic with a hearing loss (mild to profound) and interested in
discussing with others about how to make the Mass and other parts of church
life more accessible, along with supporting one another spiritually - Subscribe at
cccatholic-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Group Description
Catholics with Hearing loss interested in having the Mass in CC (CART), audio induction loops and other accommodations, along with conferences and workshops and how to support accessibility in the church and one another.
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