View Tag: ‘accessibility’
Volume 13
Universal Design for Hearing: Advancing Accessibility Across Canada
Hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic conditions in Canada and globally, yet hearing accessibility remains inconsistently addressed across workplaces, educational settings, and community environments.
Access Points: The Missing 27% at Your Front Desk–Why Audiologists Must Lead Canada’s Accessibility Fight
We would like to introduce a new regular feature- Access Points. This is written by Lorin MacDonald, CM, OOnt, LSM, JD. Lorin is a hard-of-hearing disability rights lawyer with over 30 years of experience in accessibility law and advocacy. She is a Member of the Order of Canada, the Order of Ontario, and the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame, and was named one of Canada’s Top 25 Most Influential Lawyers.
What’s New about Getting Older
Fundamentally, people living with hearing loss have a right to be included, and we all have an obligation to advocate for their inclusion. Accessibility is our social responsibility.
Guest Editorial: An Even Better Idea than DEI
Accessibility Commissioner of Canada In the first weeks of my role as Accessibility Commissioner, severe wildfires swept across my home province of Newfoundland and Labrador. No stranger to extreme weather, the province’s emergency preparedness system moved quickly. Alerts were issued across radio, television, and mobile devices. Emergency broadcasts included captioning and ASL interpretation. They had…
Volume 12
Revisiting Streaming Technologies for Classroom Use: Are Personal FM Systems Obsolete?
In 2018, I wrote a column entitled Can Streaming Technologies Replace Personal “FM” Systems in the Classroom. I talked about the potential for traditional personal FM systems to be replaced by simpler, less expensive Bluetooth remote microphones in the classroom. It’s been more than 6 years since that column, and technology continues to evolve, most recently with the development of Auracast, so it seems relevant to revisit the question. Are personal FM systems obsolete?
Volume 11
Auracast: Revolutionizing Accessibility in Audio
Bluetooth Low Energy Audio (LE Audio) and its associated features represent an advanced wireless audio technology, designed to deliver high-quality sound with minimal power consumption to all users. In contrast to standard Bluetooth, which can be power-hungry and limited in functionality, Bluetooth LE Audio offers more efficient, faster, and clearer audio transmission. This is particularly crucial for hearing aids, where both battery life and sound quality are paramount. By incorporating Bluetooth LE Audio, hearing aids can stream audio directly from various devices—such as smartphones, TVs, and public broadcasting systems—with lower battery drain. This technology enhances both usability and convenience, introducing a line of new features and making it revolutionary in the hearing care industry.
Volume 10
Thinking Outside the Booth: Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility
In this issue Dr Warick shares the experience of Miron Gazda, a client of the Wavefront Centre for Communication Accessibility and the with the range of a hearing clinical services and programs they offer.
Volume 8
Reducing Barriers at Reception and Counter Service Areas for People Living with Hearing Loss
Janine Verge writes about how we must remember that quality customer service includes reducing physical barriers at reception and counter service areas for people living with hearing loss to make them feel valued, and help create accessible communities.
Stay Connected
May is hearing and speech month. What better time to consider how you can make your phone and video calling more accessible for yourself or other people living with hearing loss!
Using Speech-to-Text Automatic Speech Recognition Software to Improve Accessibility in Audiology Practice
In-person communication barriers can exist during all points of contact during a hearing test appointment. This article gives some examples of at-risk populations that may require additional communication strategies and how to help.