BETHESDA, MD – The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) has selected the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, to receive its 2011 National Access Award. The honor will be presented on June 19 during HLAA’s Convention at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City.
The Kennedy Center is being recognized for its extraordinary efforts to make the performing arts a treasure available to everyone, including people with hearing loss. It has done so, for example, by ensuring that performances are accessible through real-time captioning, hearing assistive technology, and sign language interpretation. The Kennedy Center has made performing arts programming available to all people with disabilities, including through large-print and Braille playbills, audio-described performances, and seating that is accessible for people who use wheelchairs.
Six hundred HLAA Convention attendees will have an opportunity to celebrate the range of accessibility at the Kennedy Center at a performance of Wicked on June 17. The performance will be made accessible through captioning, hearing loop and infrared systems, and sign language interpretation.
“This historic performance shows what can be done to ensure that people with hearing loss can enjoy the arts when appropriate accommodations are in place,” said Brenda Battat, executive director of HLAA.
