CARRYING THE MESSAGE TO A.A.s WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND/OR CHRONIC
ILLNESSES
Many A.A. members are hard of hearing or deaf, visually impaired or blind, brain
injured, confined to their beds with a chronic illness, or use wheelchairs,
walkers or crutches. Members of a group may feel stymied when first faced with
these out-of-the-ordinary requirements but, in fact, there are many
accommodations which can be made so that alcoholics with special needs can be
active, participating members of a “regular” group. Some adjustments are simple
and some are more complicated—but all are possible for the member willing to
“go to any lengths” for his or her own sobriety and to help another alcoholic.
Often A.A.s will take a meeting to an A.A. member who is home- or house-bound.
“I can’t tell you,” one hospitalized A.A. reported, “what a difference it made
in my mental and emotional state when those six people showed up in my room
carrying the message of A.A. and all the love and support of our Fellowship. And
they did it twice a week for three months, until I was able to make meetings
again! I was so down in the dumps before; I really had sort of given up—and, to
be honest, I had started thinking I might as well have a drink, since I was
dying anyway. But hearing the experience, strength and hope of others in the
program inspired me to fight both my illnesses— the cancer and my alcoholism. I
don’t know what I would have done without A.A. at that low point in my life.”
For members who aren’t confined to bed, A.A.s in their group often drive them to
and from meetings, install wheelchair ramps over steps to the meeting room, and
arrange the room so that there is ample space for wheelchairs or walkers. It is
important to identify meetings accessible for wheelchair users in local meeting schedules.
Services and material available for members who are chronically ill and/or have
limited ambulatory ability include the Loners/ Internationalist Meeting (LIM), a
newsletter for A.A. members who are in isolated areas, at sea, or home- or
hospital-bound (known as Homers) and stay in touch with other members by mail
and newsletters. A similar publication (not through G.S.O.) is World Hello, an
international correspondence group. Many A.A.s share via computer bulletin
boards and on-line meetings. You may contact the On-line Intergroup of A.A.
(intergroup-approval@worldstd.com)
for further information. Alcoholics Anonymous, and the Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions are also available on 3.5" diskettes that run in Microsoft Windows.
G.S.O. has a service piece, “Tapes for Sale and Exchange,” that lists
distributors of taped A.A. talks, and the A.A. Grapevine has a series of popular
audiocassettes on A.A. subjects.
CARRYING THE MESSAGE
TO THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
For members who are deaf or hard of hearing, the use of a skilled interpreter in
American Sign Language (ASL) is encouraged. The Special Needs Committee can
compile and maintain a list of meetings where ASL interpreters are available, as
well as a list of ASL interpreters who are willing and able to sign at A.A.
functions. The cost of ASL interpreters is a factor for many groups. In some
areas, the intergroup or district committees provide financial assistance and/or
help coordinate efforts to make signed meetings available.
Some intergroup/central offices have TTY (Teletypewriter or Text Telephone)
machines to enable the deaf member to readily contact the A.A. community. Those
who do not have them use the Telecommunications Relay Service, which is offered
in most communities. Either way, there should be some training in the use of
this equipment so that the communication will be as smooth as possible for all
concerned. They might also keep a list of deaf or hard of hearing A.A. members
who have TTY machines and would like to network with members.
If a deaf member comes to your group, put them in touch with someone who is
willing to keep in touch through the TTY or Relay Service. It is also helpful,
when speaking, to look directly at the deaf or hard of hearing member, since
many are able to read lips. A.A. groups with the help of local central office/intergroup
or district or area committees can initiate efforts to start new A.A. groups or
meetings that are more accessible to deaf or hard of hearing members.
Services and material available for the deaf and hearing impaired include the
Intergroup/Central Offices Directory (those with TTY equipment are noted); and a
5- volume 1/2" VHS video of Alcoholics Anonymous in ASL. Pamphlets rewritten for
the deaf or hearing-impaired alcoholic include “A Deaf Newcomer Asks,” “A Brief
Guide to Alcoholics Anonymous” “Translation of the Twelve Steps,” “Translation
of the Twelve Traditions,” and “Is A.A. For You?” Deaf members are welcome to
participate in the LIM. There is also an International Deaf Group by Mall listed
under “Special International Contacts” in the regional directories published by
G.S.O. For more detailed information see the A.A. Guidelines on Carrying the A.A.
Message to the Deaf Alcoholic.
One A.A. member reminded us that, in carrying the message to the deaf alcoholic,
“Try not to treat them as different or special, but allow them freedom to participate
in a typical A.A. meeting.
“The main thing to remember is that deaf alcoholics have the same problem as
anyone else. While we and they may come up with a thousand reasons why they are different,
let’s emphasize over and over “Don’t drink; Keep coming back.”
For the purpose of these guidelines we will use the term “deaf.” There are other
people who are hard of hearing, either permanently or temporarily. People who are deaf or
hard of hearing are all unique, and there is a variety of ways to communicate with them:
sign language, speechreading, writing, typing, and TTY, for example.
Often, sign language is the most effective way to communicate, and many groups use
sign language interpreters to help carry the message to deaf members. In a pinch, you can
try writing back and forth. But keep in mind that English is not the first language of many
deaf people—sign language is! So, whenever possible, use sign language—either
directly or through an interpreter. If you do have to write, keep it simple and brief.
Encourage the newcomer to take A.A. Iiterature and invite them to come to another meeting.
A smile, a handshake and a cup of coffee speak “the language of the heart,” which we can all hear.
SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS
If there is a need for an interpreter try to arrange to have a sign language interpreter
at the meetings that deaf alcoholics attend. The deaf member may be able to bring an
interpreter. If not, try to make arrangements through a local agency or check with your
local special needs committee, intergroup or central office, general service district or
area committee to see if they have any experience with the situation.
Qualified interpreters are professional people who charge fees for their services.
Experience suggests that most groups will agree to having a non-A.A. attend its closed
meetings to act as interpreter for the deaf alcoholic. Professional ASL (American Sign Language)
interpreters adhere to a strict code of ethics, which assures the confidentiality of the A.A. meeting.
Some A.A. groups cover this expense. Sometimes an agency will take care of the expense.
On occasion, local area committees, districts, and central/intergroup offices have
authorized payment for interpreters. Professional interpreters who are also A.A. members
sometimes are willing to volunteer their services. Occasionally advanced students of
interpreting will do the job at no fee for the experience gained. Be careful of placing too
much reliance on volunteers, as deaf members rely on these services and there should be
stability in whether the meeting is interpreted or not.
Experience shared with G.S.O. indicates that numerous areas have formed Special Needs
Committees and this experience seems to indicate that these committees can be a partial
solution to funding the cost of signers. Groups are encouraged to contribute and designate
funds for these committees. Sometimes a group will pay half of the cost for interpreters
with the fund providing the other half.
Whatever arrangements are made should be based on a group conscience decision arrived at
after full discussion at a business meeting. Is the group willing to cover the expense of
this service, or does it wish to appoint someone to contact the central office or a professional
agency about providing an interpreter? In order to welcome the deaf person and the interpreter
and make the newcomer feel that he or she is an important addition to the group, it is
important that a full consensus on these points be reached in advance. The interpreters
should be introduced to the group before meetings.
Initially it may be difficult to convey feelings through another person, so try to
communicate as directly as possible. It is important to have the deaf person’s attention
before speaking. He or she may need a wave of the hand, a tap on the shoulder or some sort
of signal that you wish to communicate. Many deaf people have some training or experience
in speechreading (also known as lipreading). However, this varies widely with individuals.
Effective speechreading also requires very specific conditions: the speaker should not be
chewing gum or eating, should not have an accent or a mustache, and there should be no back
lighting. If a deaf person indicates that he or she can speechread, try to follow these guidelines.
Also, speak slowly and clearly, but don’t exaggerate. Look directly at the person while speaking.
If you are called on to read something while an interpreter is signing, read slowly and clearly.
Try to furnish the interpreter with the text beforehand, as formal writing is more
difficult to interpret quickly.
OTHER FORMS OF COMMUNICATION
More and more dedicated A.A. members are committing themselves to learning sign
language in order to be more effective in communicating with the deaf A.A. member.
Some become proficient and are able to work with the deaf alcoholic as sponsors.
Others learn enough to greet and encourage the member to keep coming back.
Those A.A. members who do not know sign language can still communicate with our deaf
friends by telephone. Some deaf people have TTY (Teletypewriter or Text Telephone)
equipment which allows them to communicate not only with those with similar devices,
but with the aid of a Telephone Relay Systems operator, they can communicate with anyone.
Information on this service can be found in the front section of your phone book under
“Services for People With Disabilities.” Give the deaf newcomer the same care and concern
that we would a hearing newcomer. If there is a Twelfth Step call to be made, it is
not necessary that both members be able to sign. We must remember that our A.A. experience
is the most important thing we have to share.
Many area, district and intergroup/central office newsletters publish information about
groups for the deaf. Meeting lists should note which meetings are interpreted.
SHARING BY MAIL
The International Deaf Group by Mail, listed in the front of all A.A. directories,
and the Loners/Internationalist Meeting (LIM), a bimonthly A.A. meeting by mail,
are other ways for deaf alcoholics to share their experience, strength and hope with others.
Some deaf members are in active communication through e-mail and online A.A. meetings.
One source for further information is the On-line Intergroup of A.A.
CATALOG OF A.A. MATERIAL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
A catalog of A.A. material lists a wide range of literature and audio-visual material for
alcoholics with special needs.
Some A.A. literature cited as being most helpful for deaf alcoholics includes:
“Twelve Traditions Illustrated,” “Twelve Steps Illustrated,” “Is A.A. for Me?,” “It
Happened to Alice,” “What Happened to Joe?,” and the A.A. Grapevine magazine.
In addition, in response to requests for simplified material, the following material is
available in easy-to-read language: “Twelve Steps,” “Twelve Traditions,” “A Brief Guide to A.A.,”
“A Deaf Newcomer Asks,” and “Is A.A. for You?”
ASL VIDEO CASSETTES
Alcoholics Anonymous, the Big Book, and Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions are available in American Sign Language (ASL) on video cassette.
In addition, the videos “Young People and A.A.,” “Hope: Alcoholics Anonymous,”
“A.A.—Rap With Us,” and “It Sure Beats Sitting in a Cell” are all closed-captioned
for the deaf. All the G.S.O. television public service announcements are captioned for the deaf.
PUBLIC INFORMATION AND
COOPERATION WITH THE PROFESSIONAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEES
Based on the response G.S.O. received from the professional agencies we contacted,
we encourage local P.l. and C.P.C. committees to contact agencies for deaf people
(often part of local agencies for the handicapped) and offer to put on an open A.A.
meeting or a Public Information meeting about Alcoholics Anonymous; also, to let them know
about the A.A. resources available.
Another project that has been suggested for P.l. committees is to take an A.A. meeting to
schools for deaf people and/or provide information and material about A.A. to such schools.
Often, local C.P.C. committees will exhibit A.A. Iiterature at conferences which
are focused on services for deaf people. Some C.P.C. service people also make presentations
about A.A. and available services to these types of conferences and professional meetings.
There are a number of social clubs and organizations for deaf people. If we can make
information available about what A.A. can offer the deaf alcoholics attending A.A.
meetings could become much less daunting for the potential member. These clubs can be reached
through the National Association for the Deaf or the National Fraternal Association for the Deaf.
A.A. EVENTS AND CONFERENCES
Deaf A.A. members may need a few special considerations when attending an A.A. event.
For those who have a fair amount of hearing and/or who read lips, seating near the speaker
may be all that is required. Others who are deaf may require the use of a sign language interpreter.
Here are some points to consider when planning a conference or meeting that will be attended by deaf A.A.s.
- Reserve interpreters well ahead of time because they are in great demand.
- Budget the interpreting expenses. Find out early what the estimated cost will be,
whether by the hour or by the day. If you are holding concurrent workshops, you may
need more than one interpreter. If your event is small (and short) you may be
fortunate to find a qualified volunteer, but do not expect to rely on volunteers.
- In designating preferred seating for deaf members, cordon off the reserved area
and clearly indicate “Please reserve for deaf members,” and ask that people
refrain from walking in front of the section as it will cause the deaf members to be
cut off from the speaker and the interpreter.
- Sensitize workshop leaders and meeting chairpersons to the use of the interpreter.
In this way, those members who depend on the interpreter will not be deprived of opening
remarks or keynote speakers.
- Stick with your plans once you have announced that an event is to be interpreted.
Deaf people are very likely to travel far for the few events that are interpreted.
If the event has concurrent meetings and workshops, plan for the availability of at
least one interpreter per time block. Ask the deaf participants at the outset
which workshops they plan to attend.
- If you are listing the event with the General Service Office, your local intergroup/central
office or in any A.A. publication, specify that it is sign language interpreted.
If possible, have a TTY. number that deaf people can call for more information.
CONCLUSION
A G.S.O. staff member who serves on the Special Needs assignment is available as a resource and
facilitates communication among local Special Needs Committees. They ensure
that inquiries from and about deaf alcoholics are given the proper information
and are referred to the local A.A. committee for further action.
For information on TTY equipment please check the Central Offices/lntergroup Directory, which
indicates those central offices with these special machines.
We encourage you to keep us informed of your experience in trying to carry the message to deaf
alcoholics, so that we can continue to improve our services in this area. We
look forward to hearing from you, and wish you good luck in carrying the
message to the alcoholic who still suffers.
from "A.A. Guidelines/Carrying
the Message to the Deaf Alcoholic"
Email Area
Special Needs
