WMAA34 SPECIAL NEEDS
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CATALOG OF A.A. MATERIAL FOR SPECIAL NEEDS
CARRYING THE MESSAGE TO A.A.s WITH PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES AND/OR CHRONIC ILLNESSES
CARRYING THE MESSAGE TO THE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR ALL ACCOMMODATIONS
Some A.A. entities are attempting to meet such needs by forming Special
Needs Committees. Since the goal is to make A.A. accessible, some committees
refer to themselves as Accessibilities Committees. In some localities
committees name themselves according to the specific need addressed, such as
“Hearing Impaired Committee.” When one or more members of a group have special
needs (such as the need for an American Sign Language interpreter or
wheelchair accessibility, or have an illness which prevents them from getting
to the meeting room), A.A. members from that group will attempt to see that
those needs are met. The members of a Special Needs Committee explore, develop
and offer resources to make the A.A. message and participation in our program
available to everyone who reaches out for it. A G.S.O. staff member who serves
on the Special Needs assignment, is available as a resource and communicates
with local Special Needs Committees.In the interests of good communication and working together, Special Needs
Committees are encouraged to keep their area committees and local
central/intergroup offices informed of their activities. It is also helpful to
work closely with committees handling Public Information and Cooperation With
the Professional Community in terms of keeping the public and appropriate
agencies informed about A.A. being accessible to alcoholics with special
needs.
CATALOG OF A.A.
MATERIAL FOR SPECIAL NEEDSA catalog of A.A. material lists a wide range of literature and
audio-visual material for alcoholics with special needs. For the blind and
visually impaired there is recovery literature in Braille and large print, as
well as audio tapes. Alcoholics Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve
Traditions are available in American Sign Language (ASL) on VHS videos for the
deaf and hard of hearing.
CARRYING THE
MESSAGE TO A.A.s WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND/OR CHRONIC ILLNESSESMany 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. ([email protected]) 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 HEARINGFor 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”
For A.A. members who are blind or visually impaired, simply getting to the
meeting room can be the biggest problem. The Special Needs Committee can
compile and maintain a list of sighted members who are willing to provide
transportation to and from meetings and other A.A. functions. Several groups
have asked their local central office or intergroup to code Twelfth Step lists
to identify members who are willing to provide transportation. Volunteers may
be recruited to guide the blind or visually impaired newcomer to chairs, the
hospitality table and rest rooms, until that member is acquainted with the
surroundings. Meeting rooms should always be set up exactly the same way, or
else the blind or visually impaired members should be alerted to what’s
different. Banging into a chair or a table in what was empty space at the
prior meeting can be both dangerous and embarrassing.Services and material available to help the blind or visually impaired
alcoholic include books and pamphlets available in Braille, in large print,
and/or on audiocassette tape, and a list of suppliers of A.A. talks for sale
or exchange.Easy to Read Literature
Some alcoholics are unable to take advantage of the wealth of supportive and
informative literature in A.A. If you become aware that a member might have a
limited ability to read, there are several ways to be helpful without
embarrassing him or her.For instance, when your group’s literature chairperson announces which books
and pamphlets are available at that meeting, he or she can also mention the
numerous books, pamphlets and Grapevine articles which are available on
audiotape. Or, if you think a member of your group might have limited reading
skills, you can structure your Step and Traditions meetings so that the Step
or Tradition is read aloud at the beginning of the meeting—which is great for
everyone!Services and material available to help developmentally disabled A.A.s include
audio and video cassettes; a list of suppliers of A.A. talks for sale or
exchange; illustrated, easy-to-read literature, such as
“Is A.A. For Me?,”
“Twelve Steps
Illustrated,”
“Too Young?,”
“What Happened to
Joe,”
“It Happened to
Alice,”
“It Sure Beats
Sitting in a Cell.”
GENERAL
GUIDELINES FOR ALL SPECIAL NEEDS ACCOMMODATIONSRespect for the dignity of others has to be the foundation for all our
efforts to carry the message to alcoholics with special needs, with emphasis
on identification rather than on how we are different. As one deaf A.A. put
it, “I’m just an
alcoholic, like everyone else here. I have the same need to be a ‘worker among
workers’ and not be singled out for special treatment. If you can just make
the program available to me, I’ll do what I have to do to work it.”
The goal is to include all alcoholics in the wonderful experience of belonging
to a group and partaking of a full range of benefits of membership.Beyond helping those in your own group or committee, others may be informed
about carrying the message to alcoholics with special needs through workshops
and presentations at A.A. gatherings, such as area assemblies, conventions,
conferences, round-ups and Regional Forums.SUMMARY
Our Big Book says, “We
are people who normally would not mix,”
and this is especially true when someone is a little
“different”
from the others. But the rewards of giving this kind of service to a follow
alcoholic are immense! Group fellowship grows stronger, the person with
special needs is included and respected as a fully- participating member of
the group, and everyone’s sobriety is strengthened. When faced with the
challenges of accommodating a special need, we would do well to remember:
“When anyone,
anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of A.A. always to be there.
And for that, I am responsible.”from “A.A. Guidelines/Special
Needs Committees”
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