a.b.c. (Advocates for Better Communication)
Consumer Advocacy
People with hearing loss . . .
Whether it is in a hospital, courtroom, museum, classroom, or store, ask for the assistive devices and services you are entitled to. By making people aware of your needs, you make hearing loss less invisible and that helps us all. Sure, it may be easier to say that it's not worth the bother, or that it doesn't really matter, or you would rather that people didn't know, but we are counting on you to speak up! Imagine if 30 million Americans and their families spoke up and asked for the captioning, interpreters, and assistive devices they need to function optimally. We would no longer be invisible. Our needs would not be overlooked.
If you cannot get what you are entitled to, then write! Letters do make a difference! Write to the institution denying you your rights; write to your legislators making them aware that your rights are being denied; and then write to a.b.c. so we can follow up. If you do not get satisfaction, then you can file a complaint under the ADA with the U.S. Department of Justice.
Institutions and organizations . . .
If you need more information on ADA compliance, please call or write to a.b.c. We will advise you on how to make your facility more accessible to people with hearing loss.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCE WITH ASSISTIVE LISTENING DEVICES AND CAPTIONING
We are interested in your experiences in attending theaters and other places, using assistive devices, viewing captioned programs, etc. Please fill out this form each time you attend such a performance or program and send it to us. Use the email address abc@lhh.org, or send by mail if you prefer. We plan to compile a report on consumer experiences and discuss problems and solutions with the sites.
Your report will help a.b.c. in its efforts to improve accessibility for those with hearing loss.
I went to (saw, heard) ______________________________________
On (date: specify if matinee, etc.)______________________________
Saw, heard, visited__________________________________________
The assistive listening system was FM___ Infrared____ Other__ None____
Quality and clarity Excellent______ Good_____ Fair___ Poor__ None_____
Comments:
Captioning Good______ None_________
Problems___________________________
Signed (optional)________________________________
Contact Us:
50 Broadway, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004
917-305-7809 (VOICE)
917-305-7999 (TTY)
917-305-7818 (FAX)
www.lhh.org/abc
E-Mail: abc@lhh.org
