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    I went to school in a building at the foot of this clock tower. The school did not need to install bells signifying time for class change, because the big bell in the clock chimed out hourly. I could hear it, too, along with most people in town. Little did I know that something would happen to me so I could no longer hear it. Built in 1871, the clock is on top of a brick structure that houses a tank that was Rome's water reservoir for many decades. 
Rome, GA
The City of Seven Hills
    I always thought it strange that this big clock sat in the middle of my school's playground... but I was just a kid, so what did I know? 
It's not important to me anymore to be able to hear the clock's chime. It was important then to know when recess was over and the big hand and the little hand were too far up to see. But what if hearing the chime was the only way I had access to knowing the time? 

These pages are about accessibility... that all encompassing word that means so much to people with disabilities. Many people in wheelchairs are fully capable of participating in work and social activities except that many places are inaccessible to wheelchairs. They work toward making more places accessible for them. In like manner, many people with hearing loss are fully capable of participating in work activities and enjoying a good social and cultural life, but access is not available. We face problems with access to telecommunications, in theater, at work, at church and a host of other places. 

In many cases, it does not have to be that way. I once knew a man who argued, "If they have only one job and it requires the use of both hands, and you only have one hand, then quite obviously, you can't work there." He's right, in a very narrow sense. But it is the wrong sense because it is hardly ever that cut and dried. The general public thinks that way too but it is just because they do not know any better.

We usually think of access in terms of what laws such as the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) can do for us.  SHHH   has several publications concerning the ADA and links to ADA information on its Web site. Also the SHHH-California Web site has links to ADA information and legislation unique to California. I have a started a page of links that includes ADA information and information about the Telecommunications Act of 1996. I will update these pages as I discover more links to ADA information and other laws and regulations. Aside from laws and regulations, I hope to show ways that access can be achieved or improved given the current state of affairs.

Who was it that said, "Friends, Romans,  countrymen... lend me your ears."?   I wonder if he was seeking access to something... maybe the Forum?

Regards,

Ron Vickery        "Have Loop, Will Travel" 

Email:   Ron.Vickery@USA.Net
ICQ#:   803381

Last changed: 04/14/01

 

INDEX
 
A Presentation About Telecoils This is intended to be very elementary for someone who doesn't know about Telecoils. 
Using ALS in Live Theater Another Presentation - this one is about Assistive Listening Systems and microphone techniques in live theater. Getting good sound in live theater presents a challenge different from a movie  theater. 
Connecting to Phones There's lots of ways a hard of hearing person can connect equipment to telephones to hear better. This page shows some of them. (Written about two years ago, it needs updating.)
Using a Neckloop with the TA80 The TA80 is a device that makes telephones hearing aid compatible, or boosts the signal of phones that are. This page shows how to connect the TA80 to other devices such that a neckloop can be used.
Links to Other Sites I'm listing sites that have something to do with hearing loss. 
Configuring HyperTerminal
for Relay Operation		 HyperTerminal is a Windows based program that facilitates communication with other ASCII computers and terminals, such as Relay. It is very useful in a 2LVCO operation.
Sound Experiment This is a simple experiment showing how sound gets messed up with reflections and reverberation.
 Room Sized Audioloops 
 Although still a draft version, this tutoral is viewable. It gives information on packaged units and "do-it-yourself" audioloops. Audioloops allow a hearing aid user to hear program material directly without needing a separate receiver if the hearing aid has a telecoil.
Digital Cell Phone Interference
 Also under construction, this page will show the results I have obtained by experimenting with shielding to eliminate or reduce cell phone interference to hearing aids.