I requested closed captions or a system such as Listen everywhere at a local museum that shows independent and classic films, has concerts and speakers. I was referred to the new Accessibility Specialist who met with the directors. This is what she offered me:
They will set up a blank white screen next to the movie screen and bring in someone to type live captions during the film screening.The hearing impaired people can sit in reserved seats in front of the screen. This would only be offered when someone calls a few days ahead and requests it. I would like to know what others think of that option.
I suggested that they purchase movies with subtitles. They told me that newer independent films in English often didn’t come with subtitles and the distributer that provides the older classic film doesn’t offer films with subtitles. My suggestion is that they find another format with subtitles since the live captions would be delayed speech and it would be hard to watch the movie on one screen and read the subtitles on another. I also want to suggest that they invest in something like Listen Wifi for all their audio.
performance venues that do not have appropriate accessibility have already made the decision to not have them. They certainly know what is available and the associated cost. Good luck with your efforts.
I think you would have more success with getting them to install a cheap Auracast transmitter. I suspect for under $100 USD, they could get it done.
Then hook up a Floogoo Auracast receiver to your phone.
They do provide headphones which amplify the sound but the speech is still difficult and some of the sound quality is bad. I think they are aware of ADA.
Thanks, I just read the information on their web site and another discussion on this forum about it. Have you been able to try it? I am surprised it is that cheap compared to some of the other audio options.
Curious - What’s the range of a $100 auracast transmitter ?
There’s Live Transcribe, but you might spend your entire time looking at the phone, which wouldn’t be great. I think I like the Auracast idea better, but I thought I’d throw this out there.
A blank white screen sounds intrusive as can be, for everyone!
Edited to add: Can’t they pretend it’s opera and provide supertitles?
See the church install thread.
Amazon sells cheap Auracast transmitters for around 50 bucks USD. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=auracast+transmitter&ref=nav_bb_sb
I have tried Auracast using a FlooGoo usb device, and a Homespot BA 210 with a cheap Homespot headphone. Both work just fine.
I’m still waiting for Oticon or Philips to update their hearing aids for Auracast.
Kaiser offers $4,000 toward a pair of hearing aids once every two years if one pays a little extra monthly with their Medicare Advantage plan. Oticon is one of the manufactures they make available.
However, I am tempted to take up on Costco’s generous return policy and trial a pair of Jabra 30 hearing aids while waiting.
Yes, it would involve looking back and forth from phone to movie. I think there is also a time delay with live transcript as well as the live captioning they are proposing.
I think the little extra monthly payment on insurance has been well worth it for me since it covers glasses, dental and hearing aids. What is it you like about the Jabra at Costco?
Yeeeeikes! All Kaiser gave me on my supplemental Medicare Advantage plan was 500 bucks per ear! Then again, in my section of the USA, Kaiser has their own audiologists in the Kaiser office 2nd-nearest my house, maybe 15 minutes drive away, and they have multiple brands at various technology levels. The prices are good, too. The office has soundproof testing booths, REM, the warranty is 3 years, and the audiologist I see just told me custom molds are free during the entire 3-year warranty period. Otherwise, free domes and free wax filters for, I think, the life of the hearing aids. So, maybe that mitigates the difference a bit. I guess I have to accept the Kaiser $500 per ear, anyhow.
How long was it that you last checked? Kaiser has improved their Medicare Advantage plan for hearing aids over the last two or three years in the Seattle area.
Advantage Plus option 2. For just $18 a month added to your Medicare Advantage premium, you’ll get a hearing aid allowance ($4,000 for both ears combined every 24 months) and routine transportation (20 roundtrips per calendar year) coverage.
- Jabra has Auracast.
- Jabra has made improvements in hearing in noise.
- Costco has a generous return policy.
- Costco replaces the wax filters and domes included in the cost.
- Costco has a lost hearing aid benefit.
- I have the software to adjust the hearing aids.
Each year when I make my annual selection, I check. i’m in Oregon, and a smaller town than Seattle - I don’t know if that matters. My supplemental insurance covers dental care, eyeglasses/contact lenses and hearing tests/hearing aids. I’m not dissatisfied with my coverage - I think it’s more that I’m surprised they pay so much toward hearing aids in Seattle.
Edited to add: The cost of my supplemental coverage is $46 per month. And, Kaiser pays $500 per ear for HAs, every three years on my supplemental plan.
THIS: 
What brand of aid do you currently wear? (sorry if you’d already mentioned). Cuz I think both the Oticon Intent + newer and the Phonak Spheres are Auracast-enabled.
I guess the era of ensuring that ALL attendees have a working solution for hearing in public venues has gone the way of the dodo. I like the suggestion of user900, so maybe you could convince the museum to go this route. If it requires a donation PAY FOR IT and have them list you as the donor.
Crikey, we have wheelchair ramps just about all over, so why give us hearing-challenged folks the short-shrift?
Probably because hearing loss is “invisible” compared to someone in a wheelchair.
“Let me get my auxiliary hearing aid!” hauls out antique ear trumpet
@1Bluejay: And I won’t forget the classic “Ehhhhhhhh?” said in a quavery voice when I’m using the aforementioned ear trumpet.