Read below the email responses I got today. I hope Six Flags will take to heart to add captioning to all of there shows in conjuction with ASL interpreters during once their year Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day.
UPDATE V: Obviously there will be some people who don't really care if deaf/hh non-signers happen to attend the Six Flags D/HH Awareness Day and do not get their communication access need met for just one measely day. What they are really saying is "It's not my problem."
But consider this. This isn't about ADA but about recognizing the potential in drumming up more business and positive exposure. This is not an awareness day if it's only about deaf/hh who know and communicate only in sign language. Awareness day about deaf and hard of hearing people includes deaf/hh people who use and depend on other means of communication and where they get their information on a day to day basis. In otherwords, don't be selfish and ignorant at the same time. If non-signers were to be truly felt welcomed at Six Flags where they took the effort to provide open captioning alongside with sign language interpreters, then what better place for non-signers to see a lot of signers in one place and hopefully get them interested in sign language? It' simply becomes a win-win scenario. What Six Flags is doing is a Win-Lose scenario because they haven't captured the non-signers as part of their business plan. For all intent and purposes the awareness they are raising is simply a "Deaf Culture Awareness Day" and not "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day."
UPDATE IV: Just sent an email to NAD about this one.
UPDATE III: I've also sent emails to HLAA and AGBELL about this as well letting them know about the upcoming D/HH awareness day at Six Flags. And I will probably find a few more emails to send to such as NAD.
UPDATE II: A second reponse from William Shandling of Six Flags Magic Mountain after I read and replied to his first email to me.
Mike,
I will be summiting your original Web Comment as a “suggestion” in our Guest Service system, so our Park Management sees your recommendation.
Thank you again for contacting our park.
WilliamThank you for the quick response.
Will Six Flags consider this option in the very near future for those who would enjoy Six Flags' stage shows in a captioning format? The "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day" is a day about people with hearing loss and their communication needs. By just providing only interpreters you only address those who know sign language which does not raise awareness about the majority of deaf and hard of hearing communication need from those born with hearing loss to those who acquire deafness later in life. Consider that 1 out of 10 people one will have a hearing loss of some kind, 1 out 100 people one will likely have a hearing loss in the severe to profound range. And 1 out of 300 people you may likely come across a culturally deaf person who knows sign language. By presenting a Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day you may have accidentally encouraged deaf and hard of hearing people who don't know sign language to come to this event without realizing that Six Flags has not provided any means of communication support for them, especially for popular shows where voice is used.
I hope Six Flags will consider this seriously in the near future since not only this makes good marketing sense (e.g. open captioning) it makes good sense for every day use at Six Flags because 1 in 10 of your customers that come through the gates will likely have a hearing loss of some kind. Something for Six Flags to think about.
Again, thank you for the quick reply.
Mike McConnell
UPDATE: I received a reponse from Six Flags Magic Mountain.
Mike,
Thank you for contacting Six Flags Magic Mountain, and for inquiring about services being offered on our Deaf & Hard of Hearing Awareness Day. American Sign Language Interpreters will be on hand at the stage shows. Six Flags Magic Mountain will be unable to provide captioning services for those who do not sign.
Have a Six Flags day.
William
Six Flags Magic Mountain
Guest Relations
The upcoming Six Flags Magic Mountain's Deaf & Hard of Hearing Awareness Day on Saturday, June 5, 2010, I am wondering if you will have captioning services for those who are deaf or hard of hearing who do not know sign language? The majority of deaf and hard of hearing people in the United States do not know sign language or have very little exposure to be competent in understanding it among the 30 million people with hearing loss.
Thank you for your time.
Mike
13 comments:
Here is an excellent opportunity for you to educate the company
I already contacted them and have since been awaiting a response.
Kokonut Pundit
I agreed that they should come out real-time caption/CART, but it is going to cost a lot of money, usually they charge real-time caption about $80 per hours or more sometime, plus they will need to set up LCD projector with laptop with electricity nearby, so I am not too sure if they are willing to spend that much money unlike using ASL interpreter where they usually charge $30-$50 per hours depending what level they are on.
I am sure they can come out with FM system for people with hearing loss , maybe check this out about FM System as well?
Yup, that's very true. I've gone to several Six Flags "deaf day" in the past and always brought my kids and their friends along for this special pricing. All they have at the park is sign language interpreter and nothing more. Rathskeller performed one year, and there was no one voicing for other deaf people who didn't know signs (whether there were such people, I wasn't sure at the time). Typically in my area (IL), certain organization typically publicize this event via deaf centered sites online and/or newsletters, also via emails. I do wonder if other organizations such as HLAA, ALDA, AGBell, etc. were informed. I doubt it. I think in my area, it was set up by an 'ASL deaf centered' organization.
I'm looking forward to see what they have to say to you about this.
I got a reply already. Awaiting for another one.
Thanks for pointing this out and for writing a letter to Six Flags.
Would like to address this to Anonymous who said that CART is 'expensive.' It's actually less expensive than hiring interpreters-- and more importantly ALL hh/deaf/Deaf people benefit, not just one small group.
Here in Seattle there is a deaf lawyer who has been going after public venues to add captioning. Because of his tremendous work here, most of our live theaters offer captioned performances, as well as our two major sports stadiums.
I attended a workshop at ALDA Con last October where he spoke about costs compared to what the larger theaters and stadiums take in annually. It's a joke when they say it's too expensive. Usually businesses really don't know the cost. Once they find out, it's hard for them to say no.
The second point Anonymous made was access to electricity. Not a problem for most venues that already use microphones and soundstage equipment. They are used to accommodating electrical musical instruments and modifying their equipment for most performers.
Candy-- our HLAA and ALDA orgs publicize all events here in the northwest that are accessible to people with hearing loss. They will specify what type of accommodations to expect. Many of us do sign-- maybe not fluently-- but I find between lip reading and signing I can get enough out of a performance to understand.
@Kim
I'm gonna inquire more with the person in charge of this event in my area, this summer. I do not remember seeing any oral deaf at all! Maybe I was too busy having fun. We have waterpark in addition to the original park in Gurnee, IL. Is it the same at every park?
@Mike
LOL Have a Six Flags Day! Whoo!
I really am much more curious what their next response will be.
Bravo, Mike! You're right about the win-win scenario. Just like what YouTube is doing in their effort to include automatic captioning. Though crappy but it's in the right direction. I am also appalled that some Deaf people actually don't give a crap if deaf and hard of hearing non-signers do not have their communication need met at the park. Some of those people are truly heartless SOBs. They don't care. And at the same time be the hypocritical bitches they are. Fuck 'em!
Rock on, dude!
Hi Candy,
I don't know if all parks are the same. I haven't been to the Six Flags here in Washington since my kids have grown, but the park was under different ownership before Six Flags bought it. I would be interested in their response after you ask.
@Mike--
Good letter. Looks like they blew you off. Have had this happen so many times.
Looking at it from their perspective-- they feel they are doing something wonderful by having a "Deaf day" only to find out it isn't good enough.
I really really feel badly for deaf kids with cochlear implants who can't hear the fun shows. I remember taking my kids to stuff like that when they were little. Our deaf children are the innocent victims in this situation.
Then contact NAD, AGBell, HLAA, etc about this and let them know that Six Flags failed to provide proper communication access for deaf/hh non-signers during their "Deaf and HH Awareness Day."
I did.
I am constantly aware at the ignorance even still..regarding HOH. our NEW special needs library collection has an entire shelf on sign... NOTHING..NOTHING on cochlear implants. (they do have Riley Caps so i guess they have one...but nothing non-fiction.) Pretty much every church person I have talked to reagarding helping our son (also aspergers) talks about sign interp. We took swim lessons and even after several lessons she says for the 2nd time-my friend signs. yea.. um..ok..so do I but he doesn't know what it MEANS.
i feel a blog coming on...
Terrific idea about using captions to supplement venues for the HOH and nonsigning deaf. I'm all for it. In fact, it's my preference.
However, let's not make them think that it is a truly universal answer and covers all needs of d/D/HOH people.
There are still Deaf children and adults who don't have reading skills for following Grade 10 vocabulary rolling off at max speed. Leave that interpreter there, if one exists. An interpreter also gives them access to answer or join in venues with audience participation.
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