OUR CAUSES
HEARING ACCESSIBILITY
The availability of CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) and other assistive listening devices at meetings, and at community and cultural events.
HEARING LOOP INSTALLATION
The installation of hearing loops for effective, wireless access to sound (via telecoils in hearing devices) in theaters, houses of worship, senior and community centers, retail stores, auditoriums, lecture halls, and government meetings.
HEARING HEALTHCARE POLICY
Advocating for more favorable public policy and laws at the federal, state, and local levels in recognition that hearing loss affects people of all ages and impacts all aspects of their lives.
Access in Health-Care Settings
Working with HLAA's Communication Access in Healthcare program, members of the New York City Chapter are approaching and educating New York City hospitals on awareness of hearing loss and the kinds of accommodations needed by patients who are hard of hearing or deaf.
Hearing Screening in New York City Public Schools
Chapter members have been working with school officials and local legislators to reinstate hearing screening in New York City Public Schools. Hearing screening is mandatory in New York State except in New York City.
Open Captions in Movies in Cinemas
A local ordinance proposed by the NYC Chapter to require cinemas to show movies with open captions took effect on May 15, 2022. Cinemas must show movies with open captions at least once on weekdays and once on weekends and must also indicate those OC showings on their online showtime listings.
Representation in State Government
Members of the NYC Chapter joined HLAA members statewide in efforts toward the establishment of a State Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. New York is one of only 12 states without such an agency. The legislation awaits signing into law by Governor Hochul and the subsequent authorization of funding for staffing and administrative costs.
Hearing Loops at Lincoln Center's Geffen Hall
When the New York Philharmonic announced a $500 million renovation of Geffen Hall, members of the NYC Chapter successfully appealed for the inclusion of hearing loop technology throughout the venue, most notably for wireless telecoil listening from any seat in the main concert hall.
Accessibility to Metropolitan Opera Offerings
Chapter members brought to the attention of the Metropolitan Opera that its Live in HD telecasts, presented in theaters across the country, which already provide subtitles for the operas themselves, should also provide captions for introductory and intermission segments. Met Opera management has pledged to provide CART captioning for the new season of Live in HD telecasts beginning in October 2022.
Closed Captions at Broadway and Off-Broadway Theaters
Chapter advocates and representatives of other disability groups consulted with the Broadway theater community to make closed captioning available to patrons of all shows beginning three weeks after their opening. The captions are accessible via the GalaPro smartphone app or devices available at theaters.
Hearing Loop Systems in City-Funded Construction Projects
In 2017, Chapter advocacy led NYC to become the nation's first municipality to require hearing loops, or more advanced technology as comes along, in places of public assembly built or renovated with $950,000 or more of City funds.