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UPDATE 7/1/25: NEW LCA ACCOMODATION REQUEST PROCESS. ATTEND A TRAINING & REVIEW THE LCA HUB TO LEARN ABOUT THE NEW MULTI-AWARD CONTRACT & KEY CHANGES
LCA aims to serve the needs of Bostonians with communication-related disabilities. We offer a wide range of accommodations for any situation and aim to make the City of Boston accessible for everyone.
Get to Know the Community
The City of Boston is very diverse and has people from all different backgrounds and lived experiences. According to the City's Demographic Data Report on Disability, around 12% (79,571) of Bostonians identify as having at least one disability. Roughly 4%, or 2% in each category, of Bostonians have hearing or vision difficulties. Similarly, around 6% of Bostonians age 5 and older have cognitive difficulties. These can make typical communication styles inaccessible, so it is our job to empower these individuals by providing them the tools they need to communicate with us successfully.
Best Practices
Initial Recommendations:
Persons who are Deaf: Provide ASL & CART
Persons who are hard of hearing: Provide Assistive hearing devices
Persons who are blind: Provide Screen reader accessible materials/content
Persons with Low Vision: Provide Large Print materials
Persons who are semi- or non-verbal: Provide AAC devices
Constituent Requests:
If an accommodation that a constituent requests cannot be booked, please ask the constituent to identify the best alternative accommodation for them. Additionally, you can reach out to LCA for guidance.
To request any accommodations, follow the process outlined in the Services tab.
*Please note these are just ideas to get you started! Every individual is different, and not all people who have the same disability will want or need the same accommodations. For example, some Deaf people who use ASL may prefer to use CART when working with a hearing person; some people with Low Vision may want a screen reader instead of Large Print. Providing these kind of accommodations at the start of planning an event will make it more accessible to residents, but it's important to connect directly with people with disabilities about what they prefer whenever possible.
Assistive Listening Devices
What are Assistive Listening Devices?
Assistive Listening Devices are devices that amplify sound from a central microphone and bring this sound directly to an individual. These devices improve what is known as the “speech to noise ratio” by minimizing background noise, overriding poor acoustics and echoes, and reducing the effect of distance between the sound source and person receiving sound. The assistive listening device that LCA uses is called a Pocketalker (pictured on the right).
Who should be using Assistive Listening Devices?
Who should be using Assistive Listening Devices?
Assistive Listening Devices are intended for:
Individuals who rely on hearing aid devices and cochlear implants
Individuals who may identify as Deaf or as having a hearing difficulty
Where can I use Assistive Listening Devices?
Where can I use Assistive Listening Devices?
In City Hall, there are four main conference rooms that can accommodate use for this system and associated devices. They are:
5th Floor, Piemonte Room
5th Floor, Iannella City Council Chamber
8th Floor, 801 O’Neil Hearing Room
9th Floor, 900 BPDA Board Room
How do Assistive Listening Systems work?
How do Assistive Listening Systems work?
Each Assistive Listening System is usually made up of three components:
Microphone. Presenters/Event Speakers are required to use the wireless microphone so the receivers will pick up this sound. It is important to make sure that presenters use this microphone, regardless of their personal skills in projection.
Transmission Technology (also known as Inductive Loop System). This technology does the job of delivering this sound from the microphone to the device itself.
Assistive Listening Device. The person needing the sound amplification requires a receiver of sorts. Depending on the individual’s need and the room’s capability, this is either an additional device that should be requested in advance, or is the device currently in use by the constituent (T-coil hearing aid or cochlear implant).
no additional device. Individuals who are using T-Coil Hearing Aids should adjust their setting to Channel T. This connects automatically to the sound from the microphone.
additional device with neckloop. Individuals who use hearing aids that do not automatically connect to the listening system should receive an assistive listening device with an attached neckloop. This will boost the signal, and the individual should be able to connect again to Channel T to access this amplified sound.
additional device with earbud. Individuals who do not rely on hearing aids should receive an assistive listening device with an attached set of headphones.
Educational Videos on Assistive Listening Devices
Informational Video: The Pocketalker
Informational Video: The Pocketalker
Informational Video: Hearing Loop Systems
Informational Video: Hearing Loop Systems
Resources
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