The AODA has standards for the design of public spaces, but no standards for accessibility in other built environments. However, the Third Review of the AODA recommends improvements to all standards and laws governing buildings and public spaces. In addition, the review recommends that future AODA standards should align with existing standards in other parts of the country. For instance, Accessibility Standards Canada (ASC) and the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group) have developed federal standards for accessibility in the built environment. Future AODA standards may include some or all of these guidelines and requirements to make buildings more accessible. In this article, we explore guidelines in the federal built environment standards for assistive listening systems in buildings.
Assistive listening systems in Buildings
Assistive listening systems are communication devices that transmit one speaker’s voice straight to a person’s ear and bypass background noise. They function through a variety of adaptive technologies, including:
- Induction loops
- Infrared systems
- Radio frequency systems
People use assistive listening systems in group situations where they need to concentrate on one speaker or area, in places such as:
Larger buildings or areas need systems with more power.
Some people use assistive listening systems combined with other communication supports or devices, such as:
- Hearing aids
- Cochlear implants
- Speechreading
- Sign language interpretation
Alternatively, other people use assistive listening systems without other supports or devices.
The standards do not require all buildings to have assistive listening systems. However, buildings with systems should include the pictogram of accessibility for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, to alert visitors that assistive listening is available. In addition, signage should indicate the room or area where systems are set up. These areas should be near speakers, so that people who speechread can do so while they listen.