For example, I may watch something on Hulu where I’ve pre-set the captions, then I move to PBS Passport to watch another show, which is supposed to be closed captioned but the captions aren't showing. There is no easy way to turn the captions on when switching apps unless I stop the show (oh boy, my family loves this!) and fiddle around trying to figure out where to turn on the captions - on the TV or in the app? – and then how to actually turn them on. 

My ultra-sleek remote for my smart TV is supposed to be simple to use with hardly any buttons, but there is no "cc" button. So, everyone waits while I find the Settings menu, then the Accessibility menu, then turn the captions "On." Even then...sometimes they don’t come on. So, I have to go into the settings again trying something else until the captions finally appear. In the meantime, my family has decided to take a walk around the block waiting for me. 

The use of captioning has become so mainstream that accessing this functionality should be quicker, easier, and more consistent to engage on all platforms and on all TVs and their remotes.

Sometimes I “Zoom” into hybrid meetings with people seated around a table and a video monitor on the sidelines showing livestream participants. This monitor is used to capture audio from everyone in the room and it’s pushed far enough away to show everyone at the table. This distance often leads to very poor audio quality for remote users as well as poor-quality captions and difficulties with lip reading and viewing sign language. Engagement and productivity really suffer in these situations.

Last week I attended a hybrid meeting in person in a cavernous old New England town hall replete with hardwood floors and vaulted ceilings. This space is an acoustic nightmare, and I really couldn’t hear anything. Then I noticed that for the folks tuning in at home, each speaker had their own dedicated microphone. These mics were directly connected to a mixer for the live stream. Additionally, several cameras capture various viewpoints, enhancing the opportunity to lip-read.

Although I was in the room, I used my phone to join the live stream and listened to the sound directly through my hearing aids using a Bluetooth connection with my phone. There was a 1-2 minute delay in the live-streamed video, but I could clearly hear and follow the conversation. Later, I inquired about adding a wireless system to the mixer that could stream directly to my hearing aids, and it is feasible.

I've learned the key to successful hybrid meetings is a mix of thought to provide clear communication and inclusive practices, investment in the right technology, and time for set up and maintenance. With planning, these meetings can be productive and engaging for all.

My accessible room had a doorbell with a flashing light which was great since I typically can’t hear a doorbell ring particularly when I’m not wearing my hearing aids.  Unfortunately, to make the light flash when using the doorbell, you needed to push and hold the button for several seconds. This isn’t how people typically use a doorbell.

During my stay at the hotel, I received a call from the front desk saying they had been pushing the doorbell to my room for some time, but no one came to the door. They asked if I would please answer my door. So, I said, “I understand that the doorbell is a new alerting device in the hotel. Have you been pushing and holding the button in for at least three seconds?” The person on the phone asked, “Why would we do that? I mean, it's a doorbell.”