Hearing impaired in Disney and Universal

[Ishara]

My dad is hard of hearing and uses hearing aids. This is his first trip to Orlando and we are doing a Disney cruise. What I am wondering about is what is your experience with being hearing imPaired in the parks and on a cruise. Also what would make the experience just as magical for him as for those of us who hear perfectly?

 

[buffettgirl]

truthfully, my dh has to remove his hearing aids while in Disney. there is just too much noise.

 

[Talking Hands]

I refuse to wear my hearing aids in Disney. There is reflective captioning and a handheld captioning device can be obtained at Guest services for a deposit of $25.
If your Dad knows sign language there are interpreted shows and arrangements ccan be made to have dinners shows interpreted. You need to contact Disney at least 2 weeks prior for the dinner shows. Interpreted shows schedule can be obtained from guests services. If you need this I can PM the email to you.

I know Universal has interpreters but other accommodations I have no idea.

 

[Sandy321]

My dad is hard of hearing and uses hearing aids. This is his first trip to Orlando and we are doing a Disney cruise. What I am wondering about is what is your experience with being hearing imPaired in the parks and on a cruise. Also what would make the experience just as magical for him as for those of us who hear perfectly?

Deb's site - allears has great info

http://allears.net/pl/reflect.htm

for info on reflective captioning - my tip is when you enter tell the CM you'll need reflective captioning - we go in with the wheelchair users - then as we enter I look where the "red backwards letters" are - and sit accordingly -

My dh didnt find the assitive listening device
http://allears.net/pl/listen.htm

or the handheld captioning
http://allears.net/pl/handheld.htm

as useful - we used them once, not sure if there has been any improvements

Talking hands posted about interpreters
http://allears.net/pl/asl.htm

we've not used this service

I used the search function on allears and found this:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2011/02/disneys_innovative_technology.html

it was on a blog on the cruise line - you may want to call for any additional info for hearing impaired - I would hope they would have reflective captioning on board...
I found this:
quote:
Guests with hearing disabilities have access to a number of provisions to ensure enjoyment of their vacation. For the show performances, Disney Cruise Line provides Guest Assistance Packets containing show scripts. Assistive Listening systems are available in the theatres and performance venues. Sign language interpretation may be available on certain cruises upon request. Also available upon request are Stateroom Communication Kits containing a base unit with alarm clock, bed shaker notification, door bell and phone alerts, phone amplifier, smoke detector with a strobe light, and a TTY.



For us - when it comes to restaurants, I know dh looks to me to interpret - he reads lips - he loves reflective captioning...

 

[Talking Hands]

"My dh didnt find the assitive listening device
http://allears.net/pl/listen.htm"

They are found at Guest Services at each park.

"or the handheld captioning
http://allears.net/pl/handheld.htm"

Also found at Guest Services at each park. Are park specific.
Used it at MK . New ones are much better and lighter.



"Talking hands posted about interpreters
http://allears.net/pl/asl.htm "

this is only useful for those deaf and hard of hearing who use sign language obviously and many late deafened do not use sign language.

"I used the search function on allears and found this:
http://land.allears.net/blogs/dnews/2011/02/disneys_innovative_technology.html

it was on a blog on the cruise line - you may want to call for any additional info for hearing impaired - I would hope they would have reflective captioning on board...
I found this:
quote:
Guests with hearing disabilities have access to a number of provisions to ensure enjoyment of their vacation. For the show performances, Disney Cruise Line provides Guest Assistance Packets containing show scripts. Assistive Listening systems are available in the theatres and performance venues. Sign language interpretation may be available on certain cruises upon request. Also available upon request are Stateroom Communication Kits containing a base unit with alarm clock, bed shaker notification, door bell and phone alerts, phone amplifier, smoke detector with a strobe light, and a TTY. "

Requests for interpreting require no less than a 45 day lead time so request as soon as you know you are cruising, I found on my cruise that the server tended to face the male of the party but since we were seated with some of the interpreters, one was kind enough to interpret the server for me. I do lip read as well but there is a lot of background noise in the restaurants.

 

[phamton]

Universal Studios also has "clickers" for activating the closed captioning and also has interpreters. Check at Guest services to pick the ALD up or to request an interpreter.

 

[sarahkate60120]

We were there is December. At that time my daughter was just wearing a cochlear implant on one ear and nothing on the other ear. She has since started wearing a bone conduction hearing aid on the other ear.

She really had trouble when waiting in lines underneath the medal pavillions. The sound was very overwheling for her. She did not have the same problem just walking around the park just when the noise was somewhat contained and bouncing back at her.

The person at guest services told her to just take off her devices. When you wait in line for half of the day I didn't think this was a nice or good option.

 

[Talking Hands]

We were there is December. At that time my daughter was just wearing a cochlear implant on one ear and nothing on the other ear. She has since started wearing a bone conduction hearing aid on the other ear.

She really had trouble when waiting in lines underneath the medal pavillions. The sound was very overwheling for her. She did not have the same problem just walking around the park just when the noise was somewhat contained and bouncing back at her.

The person at guest services told her to just take off her devices. When you wait in line for half of the day I didn't think this was a nice or good option.

See my PM. This is totally unacceptable. The choice to wear or not to wear your CI, bone conduction device or hearing aid is your decision and if a child a decision of the parent and child together. I would be very upset if a CM suggested this. NOT THEIR DECISION at all. An email would have been off to the person I sent you right then and their and I would have asked for their lead. My decision not to wear hearing aid in the parks is my right and no one else just as my husband's decision not to wear his hearing aid at all is his alone.

 

[sarahkate60120]

Talking Hands,

Thanks for the pms.

I have been unable to respond because I only had a small number of posts. Hopefully this post will put me over the top so I can send replys.

Julie Anne