Thank you very much. My husband and I have been to at least 6 or 7 of them and have kept up to date with all of the research that has been going on with hearing loss, tinnitus and hypercusis, etc. Each state needs to work on the 911 issues since the federal government has given them the responsibility to work on it individually. In WI, when I was there, they were nearly ready to implement a plan that worked with all cell phones statewide. It was really exciting since it was the Hearing loss/deaf groups that worked behind the scenes to get the Sheriffs dept, the police dept. and the telecommunication companies to coordinate their services (triangulate) to provide services in the major cities like Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, and cities along the major Freeway/highways. It was a start that would showcase how it would work. Now I am here in FL so we will have to see what we can do here.
As for the looping and using captioning/glasses - that's terrific. Keep that motivation going. Speak up and showcase the places that work and explain about that doesn't work. If you don't say anything, they assume everything is okay... but if you show them., they will want to make right because they want your patronage. That was how it worked in Milwaukee. I got one place to put in a loop and suddenly, they were the 'highlight' of the downtown - the little darling! A paper article that stood out and the audience (us) coming to try it out. I always wrote letters thanking them for their delivering a wonderful gift for us as well as to the community at large. Because what works for us also works for many more people who don't realize that they also need hearing aids or captioning as well. It's amazing what one little step a person takes can build into a small mountain after a time.
As for the UK - they will catch on in time because most of Europe is already looped.!!!