Access For Hard of Hearing, Late-deafened & Oral-deaf That Do Not Use Sign Language
When addressing access needs please ask the Deaf, late-deafened or Hard of Hearing AA member what form of translation works best for them. There is no one right answer to this question. Deaf, late-deafened, and Hard of Hearing individuals are not all educated in the same way. Some attended Deaf Institutes, some were mainstreamed, and others attended Oral Schools. Some people became deaf (late-deafened) after they learned to speak and read English. The primary language used varies between individuals. American Sign Language is often the primary language used by people who are born deaf. For many Deaf American Sign Language is their first/primary language and they do not always have the same fluency or understanding of written English. Also, some people who are born deaf do not speak/voice.
Tips On How To Provide Access To the AA Program For Deaf Alcoholics
-
AA Material Available For Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Alcoholics
-
For many individuals who's primary language is ASL the syntax of standard English can be very difficult to understand. The following translations are only a guide to help individuals better understand the concepts in each. How it Works 12 Steps 12 Traditions PROMISES
-
-
Employing Special Workers - Certified Professional Sigh Language Interpreters Often oral/late-deafened and Hard of Hearing AA members who sign will also benefit from the use of sign language interpreters.
-
SERVICE PIECE RELEASED APRIL 2001: "Serving the Alcoholic with Special Needs" (F-107): "Special Needs Committees and local service offices maintain lists of qualified interpreters who are willing and able to sign for AA meetings and events. Providing a signer takes money, and if the group cannot afford the cost, there are sources for help. Some local intergroups/central offices provide resources in their annual budgets for helping to hire interpreters, and some area committees have set up special funds. Also, the alcoholic may bring his or her own interpreter to a meeting."
-
-
Public Information: Provide current list of interpreted meetings to Deaf community resources.
-
Sponsorship - Service Sign up sheet
-
Communication Tips: General & Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Communication Tips
-
Keep paper and pencils easily available at your meeting as a communication aid.
-
Fellowship opportunities: To AA members who have sign language skills >>> attend the interpreted / ASL meetings. Help carry the message to AA members that are Deaf.
-
Closed
AA meetings: Request
all closed groups to take a group conscience to see if the group is
willing to allow a non-AA certified/professional interpreter for Deaf
AA members to attend. Information from GSO regarding
closed AA meetings listed below.
- Professional Interpreters follow RID Code of Ethics http://www.rid.org/codeofethics.pdf
- AA Guidelines Carrying the Message to the Deaf alcoholic
-
SERVICE PIECE RELEASED APRIL 2001: "Serving the Alcoholic with Special Needs" (F-107): "Experience suggests that most groups will agree to have a non-AA attend it's closed meeting to act as an interpreter for the deaf alcoholic. Professional interpreters adhere to a strict code of ethics which assures the confidentiality of the AA meetings."
| ASL: interpret/ing |
|---|
 Referring to 'translating
from one language to another'. |
| ASL: interpreter |
 |
Employing Special Workers - Certified Professional Sign Language Interpreters
If you are unfamiliar with hiring or working with an interpreter please request the agency or freelance interpreter to fully discuss their policies and procedures with you "prior" to the event.
How to find a certified freelance interpreter in your city/state:
-
Ask the Deaf AA members to recommend a certified interpreter.
-
Enter the city or state on the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf database
-
Contact a local Deaf or Hard of Hearing agency and request a referral.
-
Call your local college student disabled services. They may be able to refer you to some certified interpreters.
-
Internet search engine or yellow page key word tips: Sign Language Interpreters, Interpreter & translators, Deaf services
-
-
How to find an interpreting agency in your city/state: Enter the city or state on the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf database
-
If you have an event that will be longer then 1.5 hours you may want to hire through an agency.
-
-
How to work with an interpreter
Translation lag time: As with using any form of translation/interpreter there is lag time between what is spoken and what is translated/interpreted. It is best to remind the people who will be speaking to slow the pace down, take brief pauses, and when reading any formal written document to read slowly. Note: People read at a faster pace than normal speech.
Access For Hard of Hearing, Late-deafened & Oral-deaf AA Members That Do Not Use Sign Language.
-
(RTC) Real-time Captioning also known as CART
-
Hard of Hearing Assistive Listening Devices
-
Oral Deaf - Oral Interpreters
-
-
System for transcribing speech to text. http://www.typewell.com
-
Contact your local University to find a transcriber.
-
-
Computer voice recognition software for one-on-one meetings
-
Keep paper and pencils easily available at your meeting as a communication aid.
-
Public Information: Provide current list of interpreted meetings to Late-Deafened and Hard Of hearing Community..
-
Communication Tips: General & Deaf & Hard Of Hearing Communication Tips
(RTC) Real-time
Captioning also known as CART
(Communications Access Real Time or Computer Aided Real Time)
Services may be performed either on-site or from a remote location via a modem. As words are spoken, the real-time captions appear on a screen (computer/TV monitor or projected), affording the deafened and hard of hearing access to any event. Captions can be displayed for one person, an entire room, or broadcast to multiple locales, and the text is readily available for later use.
How it works: Spoken language is recorded on computer-compatible court stenograph machine linked to an compatible computer by a machine shorthand reporter or steno typist. The computer is equipped with software that translates the steno writing into readable English text. The software maintains a customized stenographic dictionary that is updated by the captionist as new vocabulary is encountered. The text is stored in word processing files and is easily transferred to diskette, printed as notes, transmitted via e-mail, or incorporated into a database.
Set up tips: Provide the RTC with the meeting agenda and any terminology specific to AA. Use PC projector and large viewing screen placed in a position in which there is good visibility. It is sometimes helpful for the RTC to where an ALD to improve ability to hear what is being said. As with using any form of translation/interpreters there is lag time between what is spoken and what is translated/interpreted. It is best to remind the people who will be speaking to slow the pace down, take brief pauses, and when reading any formal written document to read slowly. Note: People read at a faster pace than normal speech.
Suggest contacting your state office that has services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Internet Search Engine or yellow page key word tips: real-time captioning, CART Computer Aided Real Time, stenographers.
Access For AA members Who Are Blind Or Have Low Vision
Access for AA members Who Have Mobility Loss Or Use Wheelchairs
Accessible Meeting Code Description & Symbols
Public Information Publicizing the physical access of a facility, program, or meeting should be included in your planning committee/meeting/groups overall public relations strategy and targeted to specific groups.
District Access Survey Group Access Check List
AA Literature and Audiovisual Material for Special Needs (F-10SN) The catalog includes AA literature available on auto cassettes, in Braille, and large print. .
-
Write: General Service Office, PO Box 459, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163, E-mail: orders@aa.org, Phone: Call the Order Entry Department weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM Eastern time: 1 212 870 3312.
