While I understand that the Access Board only governs items that are affixed, it is important to include a paragraph about this limitation. Otherwise, most people reading this will conclude that these are ALL the guidelines. There conclusion would lead them to believe that anything pertaining to the deaf and hard of hearing that is not affixed would not be required. For example, captioning and signing fall under the effective communication of the Justice Department and therefore are not listed in these Guidelines. The fear is that someone reading this would believe that they do not need to offer these services.
Also, I didn't see it and I do not know if I overlooked it but there should be some sort of LED display for all announcements. The announcements are difficult to hear and it is impossible for someone who is deaf to receive the potentially life saving information. Therefore, there should be LED terminals dispersed throughout the ship so that all announcements can be read.
Thanks,
Janice L. Schacter
Chair, Hearing Access Program
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf an Hard of Hearing
The League for the Hard of Hearing/abc communication
Self-Help for the Hard of Hearing (SHHH)