John Curry: Curve ball II -- Kate enlightens all with hearing impaired info

Kate, thanks for the info. This really helps us understand your plight and that of thousands of retirees.

I still believe there are additional needs for the spoken word to be put into text -- here's why. With CD's, there's a cost involved to the person that it will be mailed to (just like the cassette tapes). Each individual would have to request a tape or CD and others would still not have access unless they also requested and paid for a tape or CD. A text of the meeting could be readily made available and put into Adobe Acrobat form for free (and timely) reading on the STRS website for anyone with internet. And yes, it would also serve as a written record to keep some of those who speak even more honest!!!! Just think how handy the implementation of this idea would have been several meetings ago when many local OEA local leaders packed the podium en mass for a one-time praise to STRS for MAINTAINING AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE which they thought STRS offered! We could then associate a statement with a name and explain to that individual how there's a major difference between their current $70 (ball park figure) per month highly subsidized (by their school system) family hc premium and the $700 STRS premium for a 30 years service retiree and his/her spouse! John

From: Kathie Bracy

To: John Curry

Sent: Monday, January 16, 2006

Subject: Re: I swung at a curve ball-strike one!

Hey, John --

Probably for the majority of us hearing-impaired folks, the CD would be just fine, and better than a tape, as it's easier to zoom in on parts we want to listen to again. But that doesn't help us hear what's going on when we attend Board meetings. What would make me happiest is the use of a loop system http://www.hearingloop.org/ (I pulled this up randomly by typing "loop system hearing" into Google) during the Board meetings. This would help people who have T-coils in their hearing aids -- a setting that permits us to hear better on the telephone. I don't know what percentage of us have that feature; I could find out, though. I suspect most of us have it; I've had it for many years. The loop system is wonderful, what little experience I've had with it. I hear very clearly and comfortably with it. Here's a link that explains them:

http://www.audiologyonline.com/articles/arc_disp.asp?article_id=1423

If they had a loop system, and everybody spoke into the microphone (I think they have special ones for this), I'd have no problem. The only other alternative I'm aware of is the use of real-time captioning. Here's an explanation I pulled up:

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Real-time captioning

Real-time captions are created as an event takes place. A captioner (often trained as a court reporter or stenographer) uses a stenotype machine with a phonetic keyboard and special software. A computer translates the phonetic symbols into English captions almost instantaneously. The slight delay is based on the captioner's need to hear the word and on the computer processing time. Real-time captioning can be used for programs that have no script; live events, including congressional proceedings; news programs; and nonbroadcast meetings, such as the national meetings of professional associations.

Although most real-time captioning is more than 98 percent accurate, the audience will see occasional errors. The captioner may mishear a word, hear an unfamiliar word, or have an error in the software dictionary. Often, real-time captions are produced at a different location from the programming and are transmitted by phone lines. In addition to live, real-time captioning, captions are being put on prerecorded video, rental movies on tape and DVD, and educational and training tapes using a similar process but enabling error correction.

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Real-time captioning is very helpful. They use it all the time in meetings of organizations for the hard-of-hearing, which I attend occasionally. I just have to sit where I can see the screen, but it's never been a problem.

CDs would be just fine for people who cannot attend the meetings, but they still need to have something for us when we ARE there. I never know what's going on; I'm just a "warm body" out there, trying to contribute to CORE's "presence." It's very uncomfortable, because people assume I do know what's going on. I just get bits & pieces. It will probably be the same in the courtroom at Hazel's trial.

Ideally, STRS will provide both: listening assistance at Board meetings and CDs for all members who cannot attend and would like to hear them.

Thanks, John!! I appreciate your efforts. You may use this as you wish. I have absolutely no problem with people knowing I have a hearing problem. Publish if you wish.

Kate