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If you are in danger, please use a safer computer, call 911 or your local hotline or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233 voice), 1-800-787-3224 (tty). There is always a computer trail, but you can click ESCAPE to leave the site quickly.

Issues

People with hearing limitations are more likely to use services and programs if they know that communication access is a commitment.

Working effectively with people who have Hearing Limitations requires pre-planning.

Examples of Problems


  • A fire alarm sounds in a building, but a survivor who was left alone for a few minutes in a side room while the provider went to grab something on another floor, didn’t hear it and had no indication that people were leaving the building.
  • A community support group advertises its services on a bulletin board but does not mention that accomodations for people with hearing loss is available.

Suggested Solutions

  • All alarm systems need to be visually and aurally accessible. Flashing lights assist those who can’t hear alarm systems. Providers should also make an evacuation plan for people with disabilities. Access New England, a publication of the New England ADA & Accessible IT Center has compiled resources on Emergency Preparedness and Accessibility, Spring 2006, available at http://adaptiveenvironments.org/neada/site/newsletter
  • Routinely advertise your services as accessible and the type of accessibility that you provide. Posting access symbols on outreach material, advertisements, internet, and phone book let’s survivors know what you have committed to. The Graphic Artist’s Guild This link will open a new browser window. has standardized access symbol graphics available for download on their website.
  • Train your staff and volunteers regularly on the use of TTY machines. 
  • Hire staff and train volunteers with hearing limitations to be part of your programs and services.
  • Develop partnerships with organizations for the hard-of-hearing, late-deafened, or hearing loss in order to learn how to increase access to services.
  • A sexual assault response team (SART) or shelter may benefit from having a captioned orientation video.  In the case of a SART, this can help orient a survivor to the multi-staged process when there is a delay in fulfilling effective communication methods. In the case of a shelter, this can help a survivor who arrives in the middle of the night whose communication requirements are unclear or cannot be immediately fulfilled. Deaf Advocacy Services in Vermont has created a Sign Language Video for this purpose for those who are Deaf. This provides consistency in welcoming women when communication problems arise.