Just back, Handheld captioners, Intrepreting were great!

[welovedis]

We got back late Sunday after a 5 day trip to WDW. Our first time staying at CSR & we really liked the resort.

This is the first trip that DH used the handheld captioning devices that are available at Epcot, Mgm & MK. He found them to be super helpful & was thrilled to finally understand what is being spoken in attractions like Spaceship Earth, Haunted Mansion, etc..

We did have some difficulty with the CMs though, they assumed that since the captioner had a back light (think PDA but a bit bigger) that he was either a)playing GameBoy b)videotaping or c) holding a flashlight. We were "spoken to" a couple of times during different attractions & did have to explain a couple of times what the captioner was there for, etc... Only 1 CM apologized, the others just said "oh". Overall it was a great experience since DH "got" so much more than he ever has in the past from the attractions.

We also utilized the SL interpreting at AK & Brian was terrific. We will be sure to watch for him in the future.

I have emailed Mark Jones to let him know of our difficulties with the CMs and also to thank him for his help with our trip planning.

Just wanted to let everyone know how things went....have a great day!

 

[Talking Hands]

Karen,
Who was interpreting with Brian? Just curious. Brian is a real clown! I can't wait until next week when I go to visit with him again. RID is nest week so a lot of the interpreters will be out of town but I hope that Brian is there.

 

[welovedis]

Well, we made it to AK really late on Sat, so the only thing he got to have interpreted was Mickey's Jammin Jungle Parade. Brian was really nice and introduced himself to us, we conversed quite a bit before the parade. The other interpreter was a woman--long blond hair back in a ponytail, but she did not really talk much with us before the parade. She was accompanied by another CM who was an interpreter-in-training and I didn't get her name either. Everyone was really friendly we just didn't talk to anyone but Brian and the CM who "set-up" the area for interpreting.

Brian was great & he is the one who mentioned that we might be able to have the AKL Concierge Sunrise Safari interpreted too.

 

[JudithM]

Originally posted by welovedis
We did have some difficulty with the CMs though, they assumed that since the captioner had a back light (think PDA but a bit bigger) that he was either a)playing GameBoy b)videotaping or c) holding a flashlight. We were "spoken to" a couple of times during different attractions & did have to explain a couple of times what the captioner was there for, etc... Only 1 CM apologized, the others just said "oh". Overall it was a great experience since DH "got" so much more than he ever has in the past from the attractions.

Thank you for sharing your trip report with us. I am not condoning the CMs who only replied, "Oh," but I suspect they might have been embarassed & didn't know how to handle the situation.

 

[signtalker]

Judith, if the CM's felt bad imagine how we lovedis felt!!!.

Im sorry but in this day and age CM's should know that these devices exsist and what they look like. Manners cost nothing and it wouldnt have hurt the CM's to just say"Oh im very sorry I didnt realise", not "Oh".

We encountered one very rude CM on our visit, on seeing DH was deaf ushered us towards the interpreteur for the parade, had she of given us 2 seconds of her time she would have let me explain, that coming from England we sign in BSL, americans sign in ASL, total y different!.

Im glad welovedis that you found the hand held captioning helpful

Jules

 

[Talking Hands]

Signtalker on my last trip I was sitting at the castle with a couple from England. I found we were able to communicate quite well in spite of our different sign languages. We chatted for about 30 minutes before the show started. Interestingly they could understand a good portion of what was signed during the show as well. I did clue the interpreters that they were frpm England. The terps just went more gestural in the interpreting.

 

[signtalker]

Lisa, we have always been able to communicate with people who use ASL(to a point!), Im a interpreteur myself so no stranger to the langauge, there is a very BIG difference with finger spelling(the use of 2 hands when you use one),as good as anybody is, you cant understand every part of a language!. I could follow the terps quite easily, the parade is very visual, and there are some simularities with certain signs.

It was the assumption that the CM made, that automatically because DH was deaf he signed in ASL(i think there has been a thread on here about people with disabilities,what not to do etc)..
It was an "Assumption" that DH was fluent in sign language, As he has recently lost his hearing, he is not fluent, I however am!, whilst I could follow the asl terp with ease my husband and my son could not.

I dont think being more gestual makes any difference IMHO, you either understand or you dont.

Jules

 

[JudithM]

Signtalker, like I said I am not condoning the CMs simple, brief response. I agree that CMs should be aware of the devices available. However, not everyone has the manners we try to use (sad commentary on today's society).

 

[Roo'sMom]

Hi,

Can anyone explain a bit more about this device? Where can it be picked up? Is there a fee?

Is it available only to guests who are hard of hearing? Are there a limited number available?

My son is autistic and hyperlexic.....He has a lot of difficulty with auditory processing....I thought that if he could read the captions it might make it possible for him to keep up (and last a bit longer during the shows)
Do you think we would be able to qualify to use the handheld captioner?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Talking Hands]

Handheld captioner is used for rides mostl not shows. Shows use reflective captioning or if they are live shows they may be interpreted. Get the handheld captioner at Guest Services. $100 deposit returned if you return it the same day.