The pastor spoke from the ambo using a fixed gooseneck microphone that was positioned too high. His voice was not captured as clearly or as strongly as it could have been, which forced me to strain to follow along and rely more heavily on lip-reading. That level of effort is tiring and distracting, and it pulls attention away from the meaning of the sermon itself.

What stood out was how easily this barrier could have been avoided. No equipment was broken. The system was present and functioning. What was missing was consistent microphone practice and a way for speakers to know, in real time, whether their voice was being picked up effectively. Other parts of the service use head-worn microphones, which provide far more reliable audio. The contrast made clear how much access depends on small, upstream decisions that speakers and staff may not even realize they are making.

Later in the same service, another access issue emerged. Right before the service began, the choir leader removed the hymn numbers from the board and did not replace them. For most of the congregation, this likely made no difference. For me, those visual cues are essential. I often catch only part of what is announced, and the numbers allow me to find my place and understand how the music connects to the message of the day. Without them, I felt disconnected from the meaning that others were receiving with far less effort.

This kind of barrier rarely comes from bad intentions. It reflects gaps in awareness and training about how people with hearing loss actually experience communication, and how much they rely on visual structure to stay oriented and engaged.

Whenever I leave home, I pack what I call my “suitcase” of hearing technology. Inside are my devices, extra batteries, accessory cords, international plug adapters, and even a surge protector. This checklist helps me feel prepared, because I’ve learned the hard way that even the most accessible spaces aren’t always set up for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. For example, many hotel rooms, including “accessible” ones, don’t provide enough outlets to recharge multiple devices overnight. What may look like a small detail can limit independence on the road.

What gives me confidence is knowing I have options and a checklist to keep everything ready. That preparation makes it possible to enjoy the trip instead of worrying about whether I’ll have what I need.

I’m grateful for the progress we’ve made, from better device options to companies that actively listen to our needs. At the same time, I know the work isn’t finished. Sharing stories like mine helps raise awareness, builds understanding, and pushes for solutions.

My travel experiences remind me that tech is only one part of accessibility. The environments we live and travel in matter just as much. Something as basic as making sure there are enough outlets or providing clear visual alerts in public spaces can make a huge difference. These are the kinds of barriers we face daily and the opportunities we want to see addressed.

Without captions, I struggled to follow crucial medical details, creating a frustrating communication gap.

By 2024, telehealth was much more common, but when I caught COVID again and requested captions, I realized little had changed. Although the hospital had supportive staff, no captions were available. It was disheartening to learn that accessibility still seemed overlooked, especially where accuracy can affect patient outcomes.

I knew I wasn’t alone in seeking inclusive video conferencing. The FCC required that, starting September 3, 2024, all video platforms, including those for telehealth, must provide captions, expanding the ADA’s promise of expanding accessibility. A second FCC Order, passed on September 26, 2024, introduced guidelines for caption accuracy, timing, third-party caption services, and user controls.

With this information, I wrote to my doctor’s office to remind them of these obligations. I expect them to comply with FCC rules, the ADA, and other regulations so my next virtual visit will finally include the captions I need. Though I hope to avoid COVID again, I’ll keep advocating for accessible healthcare whenever necessary.

Imagine depending on audio description to navigate the screen of videoconference meeting software. And then, someone drops a message in the chat. The message is audio described over top of whatever other audio information you are trying to access via voice description. It’s difficult enough just to hear with your hearing aids or cochlear implant and Bluetooth accessories; now this?

Or imagine people are courteously not using chat during a meeting but suddenly another notification sounds off from another feature of your device. Perhaps your phone is connected to your computer, something you value, except when in a videoconferencing meeting. Messages describing incoming calls or notifications are all going off while trying to engage in the discussion. Yikes! It’s hard enough without all the interference of conflicting access.

It would be great if all video conferencing software and my devices had a way to easily select what audio input I wanted to turn on and what would be muted. Then, I wouldn’t have to manually go through each notification app switching them off and on throughout the day.

The voice of the DeafBlind community is important. We want engineers to be aware of and understand our accessibility issues. If you’re reading this, put us on your radar. Reach out, and work with us. We know what we need and would love to be heard.

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.