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“Deaf-Friendly Recreation Places In America”
By Deaf411 | June 20, 2008
Branson, located south of Springfield, MO is a popular vacation spot in America known for magicians, comedy, variety, dinner shows and musical events i.e. rock ‘n’ roll, country, gospel, and performances targeted at families.
Branson claims they have more theater seats than Broadway in New York City! Branson also has mini-golf, museums, and family attractions of all kinds, making it a possible ideal family vacation spot. But can a deaf person or family visit and enjoy Branson when most of its offerings are musical attractions? If Branson draws 100,000 military veterans and families every year, why shouldn’t it draw deaf and hard of hearing visitors? That’s the question Randy Boude wants to answer.
Randy Boude, who is hearing and his sign language interpreter wife, have formed an organization with the goal of making Branson accessible to all deaf people. He is on a mission to make all vacation spots deaf accessible! Randy, who is a singer, sees that access for deaf and hard of hearing people is limited in the entertainment world.
Their organization, Signed Entertainment Enterprises (S.E.E.), reports progress to date as follows: making The White House Theater, The Grand Victorian Hotel, and All American Café deaf-friendly. Deaf people can come to Branson and watch pre-recorded sign language interpretation video by level-5 interpreters while watching stage performances. Employees at several businesses in Branson are attending sign language classes provided by S.E.E. two hotels have included typing devices at front desks for communication with deaf guests as well as TDDs in lobby and guest rooms. Restaurants have menus pasted on the table to facilitate orders.
S.E.E. certifies places “deaf-friendly” if they provide appropriate accessibility for deaf people i.e. employees who use sign language or use of accessibility features. Matt Blunt, Governor of Missouri, proclaimed April 2008 as “Deaf Awareness Month”.
Are there other Deaf-Friendly Recreation Places in America?
Send your responses, suggestions and comments to survey@deaf411online.com.
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