GBGM > Health & Welfare Ministries > Disability Concerns > Breaking the Sound Barrier| GBGM > Health & Welfare Ministries > Disability Concerns > Breaking the Sound Barrier |
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This audit was derived from a model audit form prepared by Holly Elliott and Dr. Laurel Glass for use in the Oregon-Idaho Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. Please note that this audit does not address the needs of the culturally Deaf that is, those who use either American Sign Language or English Sign Language. Many Deaf people might find some or many of the suggestions helpful, but if a local church wants to facilitate mission among Deaf people, then a sign interpreter needs to be added to the program. If there is confusion about terms, devices, etc., used in the audit, you should be able to find clarifying information elsewhere in this resource.
Part One of this audit focuses on the needs of hard of hearing people who can use Assistive Listening Devices. Part Two focuses on the needs of late-deafened people who must have information communicated visually. The needs of the two groups overlap, however, in several areas. Both groups need good lighting and good lip-reading (aka: speech reading) conditions and both benefit from all information communicated visually as well as orally. Incidentally, so will those with "normal hearing" too! That's a great free benefit to the congregation as a whole when they decide to include more fully for those who hear differently. When you complete the audit, it will need to be shared with those able to make a difference. We recommend that the audit results be shared with your church's administrative council (or board), council on ministries, trustees & appropriate committees.
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In The Sanctuary:
Yes No
___ ___ Amplification for the whole congregation? NOTE: This does not substitute for an assistive listening system for hard of hearing people or those using cochlear implants.
___ ___ Microphone positioned away from speaker's lips, to accommodate people who are speech reading (also known as lip reading)?
___ ___ Lavaliere (lapel) microphone worn by liturgists and/or preacher(s) not using a stationary microphone?
___ ___ Wireless microphone for use in the nave for sharing of joys and concerns or additional announcements?
___ ___ Strategically placed microphone(s) so that persons using assistive listening devices may hear organ/piano, soloists and choir?
___ ___ Assistive Listening System (FM, infrared, audio loop)?
___ ___ Receivers with jacks and neckloops for the assistive listening system (needed by people with cochlear implants or hearing aids with T-switches)?
___ ___ Person assigned to ensure that receiver batteries are charged (or replaced as the case may be) weekly?
___ ___ Assistive listening receivers set out on table in or close to sanctuary, making for easier access by hard of hearing people or those with cochlear implants?
___ ___ An attendant on hand to assist in selection of proper unit and explain its operation?
___ ___ Are posters placed at entry points telling of the availability of assistive listening devices, and where to find them?
___ ___ Lighting in front of liturgists, preachers, choir members, to facilitate easier speech reading?
___ ___ Using the church's Yellow Page, website, and newspaper advertisements to tell of its audio and visual enhancements for hard of hearing and late-deafened people?
___ ___ When remodeling or building new sanctuary, architect requested to research latest acoustical technology?
In Meeting Rooms:
Yes No
___ ___ Meetings held in rooms with good acoustics (carpets, drapes)?
___ ___ Good lighting on speaker's face? (Should not have the light source behind the speaker.)___ ___ Amplification used most of the time?
___ ___ Microphone positioned away from speaker's mouth?
___ ___ Microphone used by all speakers, including those in audience during feedback or discussion time?
___ ___ All presentations be done from the front (to facilitate hearing and speech reading)?
___ ___ Comments/questions from audience repeated by speaker (if microphone is not available to the audience)?
___ ___ Semicircular seating arrangement used for discussions to facilitate speech reading?
___ ___ FM or audio loop assistive listening system available?
___ ___ Receivers with jacks and neckloops available for assistive listening system?
___ ___ Videos selected for and presented in closed-captioned version?
___ ___ TV sets and VCR units equipped with closed-caption circuitry, remote control available, and instructions or attendant on hand to operate the system?
NOTE: These methods also benefit hard of hearing people AND the congregation at large!*
In Meetings:
Yes No
___ ___ Written agenda, even for "small" meetings.
___ ___ Graphic recording throughout meetings, even small ones.
___ ___ Overhead projection, especially of action proposals.
___ ___ Computer Assisted Note-taking (CAN) or similar system, in "real time," and visible to all.
During Worship:
Yes No
Are the following visible to all worshipers? (Note that most hymnals and pew Bibles are in small print)
___ ___ Words of hymns?
___ ___ Words of anthem or solo?
___ ___ Litanies, prayers, scripture?
___ ___ Words of the liturgies?
___ ___ Children's moments?
___ ___ Sermon?
___ ___ Joys and concerns?
___ ___ Announcements?
Methods used to make the words of worship and other church events seen as well as heard:
___ ___ Handouts?
___ ___ Copies of the sermon available in advance?
___ ___ Overhead projection to large screen in sanctuary?
___ ___ Computer assisted note-taking (CAN or a similar system) projected onto large screen or a TV monitor?
Yes No
___ ___ Do you have at least one telephone with volume control/amplification?
___ ___ Do you have a TTY (telecommunication device for the deaf, also known as a TDD)?
___ ___ Do you have a personal listening device available for counseling sessions and home/hospital visits? (e.g., FM transmitter/receiver, Williams Pocketalker, Sound Wizard)
*When accommodations such as those mentioned in this audit are used, they benefit everyone. In classrooms which accommodate hard of hearing or late-deafened students, the grades of the entire class tend to improve significantly. Church members with "normal hearing" are often surprised to learn that they too benefit from these accommodations.
"I can't believe how much more I retain!" is a common response heard from the entire congregation when a number of these suggestions are implemented.
