ACCESS 2000: Communication Access for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People is a program which was implemented in Northeastern New York in the mid-1980s to promote communication access for persons with hearing impairment. It was inspired by similar programs in Britain and Canada. Here, in the Capital District, it had its beginnings at Albany Medical Center. The program has had as its objectives:

1) accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing people in public facilities and service industries; and 2) making the International Symbol of Access for Hearing Loss as familiar as the wheel-chair access symbol.

The Northeastern New York ACCESS 2000 Committee has been sponsored by H.E.A.R. (Hearing Endeavor for the Albany Region) and has been meeting to facilitate the implementation of accessibility for people with hearing impairment in the following areas:

1. Health related facilities to include hospitals and nursing homes;

2. Emergency services, such as ambulance, police and fire departments;

3. Public gathering places: e.g., churches, theaters, etc.;

4. Businesses;

5. Government agencies.

Much progress has been made, especially in the areas of hospitals, police departments and public gathering places. Our hospital ACCESS program became the model for a national initiative that was distributed by SHHH. To date, it has reached over 700 hospitals around the country. In our region, numerous churches, temples, theaters and movie houses make use of assistive listening devices. However, the need for continued efforts remains.

Therefore, the ACCESS 2000 committee has been meeting to re-visit our plan. The current members (Grady Aronstamm, Florence Butler, Janet Franklin, Andrew Kovalovich, Steven Minnich, and Donna Wayner) met recently and updated the name to HEARING ACCESS. The group plans to establish and create a Web site where all of the information, posters and handouts needed to run the program will be available to be downloaded for professionals and consumers concerned about accessibility for people with hearing loss.

The group meets periodically. New members with ideas and skills are eagerly being sought.

If you would like to join us, please call 518-785-6905 or e-mail:dwayner@nycap.rr.com We’re hoping to HEAR from you.