Three ways to be more accessible using a sound or audio visual system

You may have heard about “accessibility” on your preferred news program or online. But what does accessibility really mean for your organization and your service population? Despite its current status as a “buzzword,” increasing accessibility for those with visible and non-visible disabilities and needs is a great way to grow your audience and make members of your existing service population feel more welcome. Whether you realize it or not, your organization has probably already taken steps to make your in-person, online, or recorded sessions, meetings, or events more accessible. Perhaps you have created space at the front of your chapel or meeting room for people who need mobility aids– such as canes, manual or motorized wheelchairs, and even other people or caretakers– or for people who need to be closer to the pulpit or lectern due to hearing or seeing difficulties. During recent shutdowns or dangerous weather conditions, your organization may have started creating recordings of programs or arranging livestreams for those stuck at home for a number of reasons. All of these solutions increase the accessibility for your programs, lectures, or sermons, but did you know that your sound system is also a vital (and often under-utilized) accessibility tool. Here are some ways that the design integrators like the seasoned professionals at Sound Planning can help you ensure assisted listening for all, professional livestreaming results, and architectural elegance and acoustic intelligibility for whatever your organization needs. 

Assisted Listening for All 
Assisted listening for all might seem like a daunting prospect, but remember: it’s very likely that your organization has already taken steps to ensure easier listening for your service population– especially those of an older generation. In fact, at its core your sound system or audio-visual system is usually a type of accessibility tool that caters to increasing sound clarity for all, not just those that might be hard of hearing. Assisted listening for all can also include additional options that are not limited to: personal devices that include an integrated audio-receiver and headphones, which can put the power of volume in your patrons or attendees hands; elegant digital signage solutions that can display closed captioning during sermons, performances, or meetings; assisted listening for all can even include Telecoil (or T-coil) systems that are meant to be used with existing hearing aids and can be implemented across a large area. Ready to explore additional options or interested in seeing how Sound Planning has integrated assisted listening devices into previous design-build projects? Contact us today!

Livestreaming as an Accessibility Tool
We have discussed successful livestreaming basics in a previous blog post, but ensuring professional livestreaming results are more than a benefit of a professional audio-visual system installation. Livestreaming with PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras controlled remotely is yet another way of ensuring greater accessibility for all. Clear audio and preprogrammed video recording options are a great way to ensure professional livestreaming results that create better and more accessible videos that can increase the overall engagement with your organization. Livestreaming and overflow simulcasts are also great tools if you find that your events are overcrowded or if you are struggling to make dedicated and safe spaces for those with mobility aids and/or attendants or assistants. Think outside of the building– by ensuring professional livestreaming results, you can offer high quality videos and audio streams to any person interested in ‘attending’ your organization’s events. Sound Planning is the premier audio-visual design-build integrator in the greater Chicago area; contact us to discuss accessibility and livestreaming today. 

Know What You Need
Last but not least, Sound Planning believes in building every aspect of our design-build projects on strong foundations. Accessibility is just another aspect of a great design; therefore the design tools that the highly trained and experienced integrators at Sound Planning can easily capture vital information that will help you build an accessible system from the ground up. Despite what you may have heard or assumed, accessibility is not a barrier to be overcome; rather, it is as much a part of the architectural elegance and acoustic intelligibility that is a focal point of all of Sound Planning's design-build concepts. For instance, the Telecoil (or T-coil) technology discussed in the previous point requires exact planning when used across a large area; building this accessibility tool into the initial design or professional upgrade insures that this solution will share the same architectural elegance and acoustic intelligibility as every other aspect of the project. The experienced integrators at Sound Planning pride themselves in their knowledge and flexibility. Interested in unique solutions to increase accessibility in your new or existing audio visual system? Call Sound Planning today!

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