New technology in use at local churches and church events is helping those with hearing loss feel more included.
At last year’s South Queensland Big Camp, an assistive listening system was used to help hard-of-hearing attendees to fully participate in the program.
“It was an emotional experience to finally hear fully everything that was going on,” commented one attendee.
Ahead of World Hearing Day on Friday, March 3, the South Pacific Division’s Christian Services for the Blind and Hearing Impaired (CSFBHI) is encouraging more churches to get on board and provide a supportive and inclusive environment for those with accessibility needs such as the hard-of-hearing.
“At the 2022 General Conference Session, it was wonderful to see progress being made in this space,” said CSFBHI coordinator Coralie Schofield.
“For the first time a Deaf delegate was appointed, representing the millions of Deaf across the world. And there was also a significant addition to the Church Manual recommending local churches appoint an Adventist Possibility Ministries (APM) leader and an APM committee ‘to encourage members with special needs and to learn how to effectively communicate with them’.
“It’s important that our churches are safe and inclusive spaces for all. Every person has a possibility that God can use.”
Contact CSFBHI for resources relating to accessibility needs for the blind, low vision, hard-of-hearing and deaf via csfbhi.adventistchurch.com or csfbhi@adventistmedia.org.au.
See this article for tips on how churches can accommodate the needs of members who are deaf and hard-of-hearing.
