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You Have a Right to Communication Access
Hearing Loss | Last Active: Apr 17, 2022 | Replies (40)Comment receiving replies
Hi,
About 5 or 6 years ago I attended a high school play at a local newly renovated live theater that my granddaughter was in. They had absolutely no hearing accommodations whatsoever. I mentioned to the ushers up front that it was an FDA violation etc. When we were in our seats an usher came down to me and took my personal information and said I would be contacted.
A week or so later one of the directors at the main (different) theater emailed me and stated that they were newly renovated and apologized and gave that as the reason for no accommodations. Two weeks later she emailed and said they had just installed a $7000 Senshauer (spelling?) system and invited me to tes it. There was another play that I attended about a month later and the ushers up front knew what devices they had but not how to use them.Theynfound someone who did and, to my dismay, it was headphones and some sort of gadget. We couldn’t get it to work when we were seated and the hearing people could not even hear anything. At the end of the play I let them know of the problem and emailed the same person. She responded and said they would get on it. We never returned to that particular theater but I let her know that the headphones would not work for anyone with hearing aids. You would have to remove the aids and use earplugs. The personnel upfront didn’t have a clue how to use them…….one was charged and no one ever asked my input. She got the message so I don’t know what improvements were made. I did say there were also no notices in the lobby that devices were available.
Knowing the caliber of the theaters involved I am sure they did pay attention but I had no reason to go back to that particular theater.
And that’s my story.
FL Mary
Replies to "Hi, About 5 or 6 years ago I attended a high school play at a local..."
@imallears Your experience should be Problem #4 in @julieo4 post - The HH (Hard of Hearing) person should also know how the technology works! Sennheiser makes a variety of HAT (Hearing Assistive Technology) so it could be several products that come to mind. What I typically do is to take a picture of the equipment that is given to me. I make sure I get a picture of the model number and do the research when I get home. Most venues will give you a voucher for future visit so the next time you go, you'll be more familiar with the equipment. To not go back to the venue is not fair since they are trying to be accessible. Granted, they failed miserably, but if we can help them, we help the next HH person that asks for accessibility.
Tony in Michigan
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That's a common story with grand kid's performances. My grandaughters were both in a high school that had an outstanding theater program. Over the 5 years they were involved, I mentioned hearing loops every time I attended a performance. They did have an FM system so that helped. I brought my own neckloop so I didn't have to remove my personal hearing devices. It is costly to install hearing loops, but in the long run, having something that people in the know can simply plug into w/o having to request a battery powered receiver from student volunteers who have no idea what they are for, would be much less trouble.
Again, it's about education and advocacy. We have to keep asking for it wherever we want or need to hear.