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From: Jack.O'keeffe@f26.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Jack O'keeffe)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: Travelin'
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Date: 17 Jan 91 15:17:41 GMT
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[This is from the Silent Talk Conference]

Hi Mitch,  I enjoyed your post to Wayne re your experiences with
ALS, and can't resist the temptation to add a couple of experiences
of my own.  One very positive, and the other quite the opposite.

As a member of the SHHH tech committee I attended the RESNA "First
Meeting of All States", which was concerned mostly with reports
from the states which had received funding under PL 100-407 for
assistive technology for persons with disabilities.  I had asked
for an ALS, and as it turned out I was the only one of several
hundred attendees who had so requested.  Nevertheless, the folks
at RESNA went to considerable effort to locate and provide a loop
system for the general meetings, and portable FMs for the breakout
sessions.  They also has excellent sign and oral interpreters for
the few who had requested this.

The RESNA meetings were at the Washington Hilton, and the loop
(which was one of the "Oval Window" products) had been installed
by the hotel's audiovisual technicians.  Upon arrival, I was
asked to check and see if it worked.  I did and it didn't.  A
quick look revealed the problem, the "technicians" had connected
the microphones to the output of the amp, and the loop to the input.
Really, it was a built-in design error waiting to happen.  The "Oval
Window" setup used the same 1/4" plugs and jacks for both input and
output.  It was simple to fix and everything worked fine thereafter.

Quite a contrasting attitude was encountered at the ANSI A-117
committee meeting.  I had also requested an ALS there, and pointed
out that the Federal MGRAD specified that an ALS be provided in
any meeting room equipped with an audio amplification system.
The ANSI folks must have felt that was too much trouble, but
needed to maintain compliance with MGRAD.  They just eliminated
the PA system for everyone.  Even the "hearies" had trouble
understanding what was going on.

It is distressing to realize that this is the group writing the
American Standard for Accessible Design.  But it becomes more
understandable when you count noses and recognize that no more
than 25% of the members are disability advocates.  Many others
represent groups that will have to spend money to provide the
accessible facilities.

BTW, Mitch, I just reread your SHHH Journal article on "Denial".
I really thought I has progressed beyond denial, but it is a most
difficult trait to shake off, even when one knows better.  I'm
wearing Telex Bi-Cros BTE aids now, have had them for about three
years.  When I first got them they worked great, set at about
50% volume.  Now they are inadequate at 100%.  But I'm still
trying to convince myself that the hearing aids have gotten
weaker with time, not my hearing.  I go back to the VA day
after tomorrow to find out.

But I digress.  You made a convincing case for professionalism
in the provision of ALS.  But where will we find the pros?  As
you pointed out, you still had problems in San Antonio, even
with the system by the Audiologist.  And even though the SHHH
conventions have been state-of-the-art models of access for
hearing impaired people, there have been PLENTY of problems
with the systems at every one I've attended.  And we have
used, supposedly, the best available professionals.

I wish it was that simple.  But it is my observation that so
called "professionalism" in the hearing healthcare industry
has been focused more on protection of the "turf" of the
professionals than on the quality of service for hearing
impaired people.  For example, consider the extreme lobbying
effort by the NHAS that defeated Federal Trade Commission proposals
requiring a trial period for hearing aid purchases.  If this is
what "professionalism" will bring to ALS, we don't need it.

Thanks much for your thought provoking articles, both in the
SHHH Journal and here on SilentTalk.  Happy New Year!

... Jack.

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