Listen Up: Listen Tech & The ADA

This may be old news to you, but its relevance remains. There’s no formal governmental body of inspectors to seek out and police these regulations, but as a business owner, non-profit or for-profit, adhering to them voluntarily will benefit you at least three fold. The Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law July 26th, 1990, prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability in employment practices, programs and services provided by state and local government, goods and services provided by private companies, and in commercial facilities.

The Act includes provisions to accommodate those with hearing loss, incorporating Assistive Listening Systems in new building construction, in alterations or renovations to buildings, and facilities of private companies providing goods or services to the public. It also requires that State and local governments provide access for the hard of hearing in programs offered to the public.

Ultimately, any public space used for profit or non-profit, especially those receiving government funding, are required to integrate assistive listening technology.