Online and Virtual Gatherings: Inclusion for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Members

Online and Virtual Gatherings: Inclusion for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Members

By Rev. Leo Yates, Jr.

With most churches across mainline denominations closing in-person gatherings and worship services, pastoral leaders and staff are being more creative as they toss aside the “Things They Didn’t Teach You in Seminary” book. Many churches are offering live streamed worship services, prerecorded videos, and conference calls to continue their community in a virtual way. 

Just about all churches have persons with hearing loss, a condition that is particularly true of seniors. In-person gatherings typically use public address systems as assistive technology, but online or live streamed worship services present challenges to ensure that persons with hearing loss can hear through computers, iPads, and laptops. We will look at several options to ensure that everyone can participate.

Sign Language Interpreters

Several United Methodist churches use sign language interpreters in their streamed services. Captioning is also a possibility, although fewer churches use this capability.

Rev. Stephanie Vader (preaching) and interpreter at Emmanuel UMC in Laurel, MD.
Click here to view this sample
http://www.eumclaurel.org/stream/

Some use an overlay or insert – a picture of the interpreter inside the primary video (below) – while others place the interpreter next to the preacher or other speaker (above). When using the insert method, note that the image can easily become too small for comfortable viewing, so for best accessibility, choose a size carefully. 

Rev. Ginger Gaines-Cirelli and interpreter at Foundry UMC in Washington, DC.
Click here to view this sample.
http://foundryumc.org/archive/how-can-you-believe-this

Captioning

Captioning is strongly desired by most Deaf and hard-of-hearing persons who rely on this form of accessibility. No captioning platform displays perfect captions; however, there are some that are better than others.

If using an app such as Zoom, the host of the call can download the video to make it available later. Captions can then be added, using plans such as Caption Sync or Otter.ai. Zoom also offers the captioning feature during video calls (click here for instructions). 

Google Hangouts is a free option for small virtual gatherings, such as Bible studies, that includes a captions feature. Using Google Hangouts as an example, this approach better enables persons with some hearing loss, like some seniors, to still participate in gatherings.

Caption feature in Google Hangouts with a presentation

While Facetime is an option for Facebook users to view live stream worship services, not everyone is a Facebook user. Plus, at the time of this writing, it does not offer a captioning feature.

YouTube offers automatic captioning, but the results are often incorrect (if not sometimes humorously so). However, the caption track can be exported and edited. For directions on how to do this, or more information about captioning in general, visit the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Committee’s Assistive Technology page here. 

Conference Calls

Conference calls for prayer meetings and the like are still a popular way to gather. A Deaf or hard-of-hearing caller whose primary language is ASL can connect through the video relay service (VRS), in which the caller participates (through signing and speech) through a (free) sign language interpreter who connects the caller to the conference call. 

FreeConferenceCall.com is still highly popular, though other platforms, like Zoom, generally offer a call-in option for audio users. For hard-of-hearing and late-deafened persons who rely on captioning, a Captel phone is a device that allows the user to speak through a handset, while reading the captions on their phone.

Captel phone displaying captions.

Visuals and Materials

Visual presentations are typically helpful for participants to follow along and this is just as important for Deaf and hard of hearing participants. Hymns, lyrics, Scriptures, and the like are the needed visual presentations to include. Making visual presentations and materials available for download by participants is especially helpful. One option is Google Suite (e.g. docs and presentations), which offers published links to share. Be mindful Deafblind persons with low vision or others with vision impairment may desire a large print option for download. With proper alt-texts, these methods offer wide-ranging accessibility.

Face masks

Check our post on Face masks for information.

Conclusion

In a time where churches need to be more creative in engaging our faith communities through virtual gatherings and events, inclusion of Deaf and hard of hearing persons still needs to be a consideration. Be sure to promote your accessible virtual events or at least add it in the event’s description. 

The Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries Committee through Global Ministries has a link of accessible live streamed worship services. The list of worship services can be accessed here. This page also lists addiction recovery resources available in ASL, such as AA online meetings with sign language interpreters. The committee also offers a section on accessible technology here. 

Addendum

There is much advice flying around about how to handle remote meetings and other business since this blog was published. We are adding a few which address hearing needs and practical experience.

• Hearing Like Me, A guide to group video calling apps for hearing loss
• Center for Hearing and Communication, Zoom and captioning
• Deaf/Hard of Hearing Technology Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center, Accessibility Tips for a better Zoom/virtual meeting experience
• Hearing Loss Association of America, How do I communicate with doctors...
• National Association of the Deaf, Communicating with medical personnel during coronavirus
• Med-El: Working from home with a hearing implant
• Meryl Digital Marketing: Comparison of captioning tools