Deaf and hard of hearing awareness at Disneyland

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At least Disneyland has the right frame of mind to include ALL people with hearing loss to enjoy what the park has to offer for improved communication performances and simply just not those who are Deaf and know ASL. The people at Six Flags actually excluded those who do not know sign language. Unreal. Six Flags' own "Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Day" was hardly anything but accomodating to the rest of the non-signers (or even those who just started learning) had they actually attended thinking they'd be accomodated.

Hypocrisy in Six Flags' Deaf Awareness Day?

Is it truly a "deaf and hard of hearing awareness" day when the facts tell otherwise that the majority of the more than 30 million people with hearing loss in the United States do not know or use sign language? It's nice that Six Flags at Magic Mountain is able to provide sign language interpreters but there are no real time captioning or other services for deaf and hard of hearing people who do not know sign language. At best, this "deaf and hard of hearing" awareness day looks to be more one sided and not a real "melting pot" of deaf and hard of hearing people of various communication preferences. At worst, it's a continued discriminatory practice. If Six Flags is serious about raising deaf/hh awareness by inviting people with hearing loss to come to their amusement park then they need to be aware of the fact that the majority of people with hearing loss (from mild to profound) do not know sign language and that alternative communication options must be realized.

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.

William

Thank 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