Bourbon & Baseball Bats: Reflections from General Assembly in Louisville

I am unpacking my suitcase, home again after attending General Assembly for 2013. As I sift through the clothing that needs to be laundered I am also sorting through the memories of this year’s General Assembly. I saw very little of the city of Louisville and what I did experience was one of the least accessible cities I have ever visited. Restaurants met only minimal standards for elevator access, sidewalks were hazardous, traffic lights had no audible signals for people who are blind, and there was barely enough green space for a Seeing Eye Dog to find relief.

The best part of General Assembly for me was the time spent with other UUs. Nine of us worked at the EqUUal Access booth and I have included some reflections of theirs along with my own. I felt blessed to meet so many UUs who are committing to making their congregations more inclusive for people with disabilities. Most of the youth and young adults, President Peter Morales and several UUA Board members proudly wore our ribbons. We handed out EqUUal Access business cards with a QR code to the membership page. We demonstrated the operation and benefits of hearing loops.

We explained that EqUUal Access was more than ramps and hymnals. It's about inclusion and engagement of people in their UU faith communities. It's about changing attitudes and that does not require any capital investment.

We discussed concerns at the congregational level. The ones we heard most frequently were:

• providing a safe place for adults with mental disabilities,
• including children with disabilities in RE and worship,
• making it possible for people who are blind to fully participate in worship,
• improving accessibility of websites,
• using inclusive language,
• and publicizing accessible congregations.

We discussed ways to improve General Assembly including contacting the Center for Independent Living and the Mayor’s Office in advance so that people with disabilities can use local services.

We learned about a group of UU divinity school students who are PWDs starting their own EqUUal Access Caucus.

A more comprehensive report will be posted to the EqUUal Access website in the near future. Please contact us if you were at General Assembly or participated online to offer your perspectives.

The Better to Hear by Warren Brown

“I was able to hear everything. I didn’t have to see the speaker’s lips like I did in the past.” For years, Cheryl relied on lip reading to understand the Sunday morning service at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron. Despite the church’s public address system, Cheryl, who has severe hearing loss had trouble understanding the words even with the benefit of hearing aids. Then, everything changed. The church installed a new assistive system, a hearing loop that transmits the sound of the service right to Cheryl’s hearing aids. After the service, Cheryl was elated, “I could even understand the words the choir sang. I was never able to do that before!” What makes the sound she now hears so much clearer is that all the background noise is eliminated. The words from the pulpit microphone go directly into Cheryl’s ears.

The key to the system is a simple loop of wire that circles the room. That loop is connected to the sound system and produces a magnetic field which can be picked up by a T-coil (telecoil) within the hearing aid. By simply pressing a button that activates the T-coil the sound from the PA is reproduced into the wearer’s ear. Wireless headsets that work on the same system are available for those without t-coil hearing devices.

According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the number of Americans who suffer hearing loss is some 38 million and growing. As many as 30 to 40 percent of those over 65 have some impairment. That’s why more and more UU churches have been installing loop systems.

Recently, the American Academy of Audiology and the Hearing Loss Association of America have started the Get in the Hearing Loop campaign to help promote the installation and use of hearing loops in the United States. They advocate the widespread availability of loops, from airports to theaters, from banks to taxi cabs - just as they are in Europe. Loops can even be installed in people’s homes. A family room can be looped so that a hearing impaired person can hear the television or stereo without turning the volume way up, which even makes it more comfortable for non-hearing impaired family members.

Hearing Loops are not an expensive technology. For churches, depending on the size and construction of the building, one can be installed starting at less than $2000. Congregations can do simple installations themselves. However, it’s a good idea to seek the guidance of a certified supplier.

This year at General Assembly the EqUUal Access booth in the Exhibit Hall will feature a display on hearing loops from Brown Audio Service. For more information about hearing loops in general, visit Hearing Loop.org or contact EqUUal Access.