hearing disability questions.....

[rwade428]

I would appreciate any information anyone has on the enhanced listening devices they offer at WDW. According to tour books and I have last years park maps WDW offers 4 different options for the hearing impaired. I need this info for my brother-in-law who will be traveling with us this year. He has significant hearing loss but is not deaf. Information on which ones worked best for you would be awesome. Also, any problems. They offer Handheld Captioning....Video Captioning....Reflective Captioning....and Assistive Listening

thanks

 

[Talking Hands]

Actually there are 5 options for the deaf and hard of hearing depending on the communication mode. Since you didn't mention the interpreting I am assuming your BIL is oral.
Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs) 2 types. They are obtained at Guest Services at each park and you must return them at the same park. Deposit of $25 which will be refunded. Can be placed on a CC. One type is for people with Cochlear implants or who need to use headphones. I think they are also compatible with T-coil. It is a box with a headphone plug in. The other is a one piecce thing with earbuds. Both magnify sound. (ALL SOUND)

Handheld Captioning - obtained at Guest Services and returned at the same park. $100 depost fully refunded on return. Is a box where the script for the ride is scrolled on a small screen for the person to read. Is for rides that can't be captioned through RC or CC. Not always in sync with the actual dialog which if you can hear it at all can be irritating. Also has a button the activate the CC on TVs.

Video Captioning (Closed Captioning) Available at a few rides in the preshow and at Living Seas in the interactive areas. Obtained at Guest Services with a $25 depost returned when hou return device to the same Guest Services.

Reflective Captioning - Ask at the venue. no deposit. Is a plexiglas screen that you adjust to see the captioning which is transmitted from the back and the show at the same time.

You can contact Disney in advance by contacting Guest Services and get a information paper with the locations you can use each device.

 

[rwade428]

Thanks for the info......much appreciated

 

[alwayslisad]

I am looking for anyone that will mentor my DSister and DBIL - Sharron is legally deaf - but can hear with dual hearing aides...Chip is not hearing at all.



I want for this experience to be the best ever for them. We are doing a Disney Park ( I Had hoped for DTD - but there does not seem to be alot for DBIL to do there ) and then a 7 Day cruise on 12/02/2006

Please feel free to contact me via here....

TIA!

Lisa

 

[Talking Hands]

DTD is not a park but just a shopping area. Do you know which day you are going to a park? Generally MK is interpreted on Mon and Thur, Epcot on Tues and Fri, MGM on Wed and Sun and Animal Kingdom on Sat. If you have a park you perfer and it isn't interpreted that particular day you could request that it be interpreted stating that is the only day you would be able to go due to the cruise.
If you want to do that PM me and I will give you the contact person

 

[WVMomof3]

Hello,
I will be traveling with my dad. He wears hearing aids, but still hears very little. I do not think the headphone things will help him. So my questions are do we need to get both the handheld captioning system and the video captioning? Not really sure what the difference is. Does one work on some rides and the other work on different rides? Also, is the place where we can pick these up in the park the same place where you get strollers?

TIA!
Jennifer

 

[Talking Hands]

Handheld captioning is picked up at Guest Services at each park not where you get the strollers. Any castmember can direct you to Guest Services. It will also turn on any closed captioned TVs in the park. In some shows they have reflective captioning and do not use the handheld. You ask a castmember at the show and they will set it up for you. If you want a schedule of the interpreted shows contact Guest Services and they can send it to you before you leave. They can also send you the information on the handheld and reflective captioning in advance if you request it.

 

[eeyore45]

My dh is hard of hearing, and when we went we tried the two hand held devices,

Walt Disney World offers several different services for those with hearing impairments, one of which is the Handheld Captioning device.



This portable captioning system uses a wireless handheld receiver to display text in locations where fixed captioning systems are impractical, such as moving attractions. Receivers are available through Guest Relations and require a $100 refundable deposit (must return item on the same day for refund).

Note that not all portions of an attraction may be captioned.

http://allearsnet.com/pl/handheld.htm this link lists the places where you can use it

I found it heavy to carry from place to place, and like Talking Hands stated, its not always "in synch" and irratating...

 

[eeyore45]

Walt Disney World offers several different services for those with hearing impairments, one of which is the Assistive Listening Device.

Assistive Listening Systems utilize a lightweight wireless device that receives an infrared signal or radio signal from overhead transmitters at certain locations in order to amplify sound.

These are recommended for Guests with mild to moderate hearing loss.

Receivers are available at Guest Relations in all four Theme Parks. A refundable $25 deposit is required (must return item on the same day for refund).


http://allearsnet.com/pl/listen.htm (the links have pictures of the devices as well as a list where the user can use them on attractions at each park)

This is the microphone/FM type device - sometimes the cords wear out, and you get a lot of feedback, which can be irratating, I always try it out - and then as the day goes on I try it to make sure its working

 

[eeyore45]

By far the most helpful for dh was Reflective Captioning - esp if you use Closed captioning at home -

Reflective captioning is available at many theater-type attractions at the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort. This innovative technology utilizes an LED display to project desired captions onto an acrylic panel positioned in front of the Guest.
NOTE: NOT ALL PORTIONS OF AN ATTRACTION EXPERIENCE MAY BE CAPTIONED.

To utilize this system, Guests should contact a host/hostess at the attraction.

MAGIC KINGDOM

The Hall of Presidents
The Timekeeper
Country Bear Jamboree
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Epcot

Wonders of Life: Cranium Command; The Making of Me
Imagination!: Honey, I Shrunk the Audience
The Land: The Circle of Life
The Living Seas: Theater
China: Wonders of China
The American Adventure: The American Adventure
France: Impressions de France
Norway: Norway Theater
Canada: O Canada!

Disney-MGM Studios

Voyage of the Little Mermaid
Jim Henson's Muppet*Vision 3D
The Magic of Disney Animation Theaters
Fantasmic!

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

It's Tough To Be A Bug!


The one thing we learned is not all CM's are aware that this is in their theatre (they rotate CM's, some cm's are earning their ears!)

So always look behind the theatre for the red backward writing, and find a seat that you feel would be best to capture the words, and be comfortable - you get a "mirror" type device to place in front of you...

You wait in the que with the wheelchair guests, so you should be let in with them, in Animal Kingdom you cannot sit with those guests as it is UNDER a tree spot - some cm's arent aware of this -

at Epcot Honey I shrunk, its to the far side (near the exit) when I find it while the CM is locating the mirror, or someone who knows where the mirrors are - you should get your seat - one time a lady yelled at dh (we sat at the aisle, not the middle!!) I tried to explain, but she was miffed people "cheat" to get their seats... and of course we had to grin when she saw the device come over to dh... she sat there so embarrassed - and of course apologized...

I only offer that up because not many people realize this feature is available - but dh absolutely loved it - esp in MK Philharmagic - he loves understanding Donald Duck!!

http://allearsnet.com/pl/reflect.htm

Like Talking Hands stated, do mention to the CM's when you go by to get the glasses, or wait for the theatre to enter....

 

[eeyore45]

also for the Fantasmic Show - we've not used it there - the captioning is in the middle, and you'll need to sit way up high - we prefer to sit closer to the 'show" so I cant comment on the reflective captioning and seating there -

 

[celerystalker]

I don't remember many words for fantasmic - is it worth it? My friend is hearing impaired and I usually hear better reading captions as well. I definitely want to try the reflective listening device, but think it might be too distracting at fantasmic. Also, how does it work with the glasses at the 3-d shows? I'd rather her be able to see all the effects and not hear as well.

 

[BionicEar]

Handheld Captioning - obtained at Guest Services and returned at the same park. $100 depost fully refunded on return. Is a box where the script for the ride is scrolled on a small screen for the person to read. Is for rides that can't be captioned through RC or CC. Not always in sync with the actual dialog which if you can hear it at all can be irritating. Also has a button the activate the CC on TVs.

I just wanted to note that the button on the handheld captioning unit to activate the CC on TVs does NOT work. You're better off getting the remote control.

Keep in mind that the device for used for people to plug their CIs in may not be beneficial - especially if the CI recipient hasn't quite mastered speech perception without lipreading (like me).

 

[Talking Hands]

I just wanted to note that the button on the handheld captioning unit to activate the CC on TVs does NOT work. You're better off getting the remote control.

Actually you must have gotten a bad one because when I have used them it has worked without problem. Be aware though that most Guest Service CMs have no idea about the equipment and just give it out. It is very rare that you will get a CM that is knowledgible about the equipment.

 

[SueM in MN]

I don't remember many words for fantasmic - is it worth it? My friend is hearing impaired and I usually hear better reading captions as well. I definitely want to try the reflective listening device, but think it might be too distracting at fantasmic. Also, how does it work with the glasses at the 3-d shows? I'd rather her be able to see all the effects and not hear as well.

There are the words to some of the music and there are a few parts where Mickey or another character speaks - During the part where the villains forst appear, each says something and things are said about the wicked queen and entering Mickey's dream to turn it into a nightmare.
This is a link ot the script of the DisneyLAND version of Fantasmic. The WDW version is pretty similar - just to give you an idea of what is said.

 

[debbiemomto4]

My ds who is 6 is profoundly deaf in one ear and has a mild to moderate hearing loss in the other. He has one hearing aid with the worse hearing. Would he benefit from the ALDs - Are these similar to the headphones at movie theatre? Would he wear it with the hearing aid or without?
Thanks so much for the any help!