Movie theaters

[akjakes]

Have been living here for two years now, and love it. My problem is that my husband uses the hearing devices in the theaters to hear the movies better, and the one in Brownwood has worked on and off since we have been here. I have talked with the management and always get the same answer "we are working on it". It is very frustrating that we live five minutes from a theater that we can't use. I'm sure there are other people I our position. Have called the main office in here and they told me since they lease the property it isn't their problem. Help!! Was thinking about going to the paper, any ideas would be welcome. Thanks!!

[Cedwards38]

I'm not an attorney, but my understanding of the federal Americans With Disabilities Act ( Title III ) requires accommodations for the hard of hearing in theaters. Not "working on it" but requires that the assistance be present and working in order to comply with the law. I'd point that out to them and insist on your rights.

ADA Hearing Obligations: Theaters & Lecture Halls (http://www.eclipse.net/~synergy/ada.theaters.html)

[Taltarzac725]

Movies | Hearing Loss Association of America (http://www.hearingloss.org/advocacy/captioning-and-cart/movies)

Keep this thread going. I will bet that they try a lot harder with more publicity about this problem on TOTV.

They should have worked the bugs out of their system by now.

[RickeyD]

Contact the Disability Rights Section (http://www.ada.gov/contact_drs.htm)

[Cedwards38]

And there are penalties more than a hand slap for those who do not comply.

CIVIL MONETARY PENALITIES INFLATION ADJUSTMENT UNDER TITLE III (http://www.ada.gov/civil_penalties_2014.htm)

[wereback]

why not get a hearing aid? Than you could hear at home too .

[fredpotts]

I also have issues with them not having the system working. It is usually out for a few months at a time. I go to the Mills and Spanish Spring since theirs work and they use a different system which is much better than what Brownwood uses and theirs don't break down.

I wear hearing aids (due to too many years shooting a gun in Alaska and not being smart enough to wear ear protectors) and even with those hearing aids on the movie volume most times is pretty low. AND it also depends on how bad my allergies are will depend on if I have to wear the headset but more often than not.

[njbchbum]

why not get a hearing aid? Than you could hear at home too .

Maybe hearing aids are too expensive?
Maybe he has a hearing aid?
Why get a hearing aid when he can use the device in the theater?
Maybe he doesn't want to hear at home?

[graciegirl]

why not get a hearing aid? Than you could hear at home too .



That is what I was thinking. I am glad you said it. Hearing aids are just amplifiers and so are the plug ins.

[wereback]

I don't hear well but when I go to a movie I wear ear plugs as sound is so loud also take a sweater.

[Carla B]

Well, sometimes those who have hearing aids don't want to wear them at home.

[akjakes]

He does have hearing aids that he wears all the time, but at the movies he hears better with the headphones. Otherwise he misses some of what is said and has to ask me.

[perrjojo]

why not get a hearing aid? Than you could hear at home too .


Or better yet, why not have the theater comply with the ADA law? :boom:

[perrjojo]

Have been living here for two years now, and love it. My problem is that my husband uses the hearing devices in the theaters to hear the movies better, and the one in Brownwood has worked on and off since we have been here. I have talked with the management and always get the same answer "we are working on it". It is very frustrating that we live five minutes from a theater that we can't use. I'm sure there are other people I our position. Have called the main office in here and they told me since they lease the property it isn't their problem. Help!! Was thinking about going to the paper, any ideas would be welcome. Thanks!!

Yes, writing a letter to the editor of the online newspaper would be a great place to start.

[Taltarzac725]

Yes, writing a letter to the editor of the online newspaper would be a great place to start.

Good suggestion. They have e-mail addresses too often listed by the by-lines.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Usually it is so loud I have to put cotton balls in my ears.

[Taltarzac725]

He does have hearing aids that he wears all the time, but at the movies he hears better with the headphones. Otherwise he misses some of what is said and has to ask me.

I do find that irritating when some other movie viewers have running conversations about the movie. Unfortunately, once in a while I will go to the movies with someone who likes to make comments during it, so I have been to blame for this too.

If you keep this thread going maybe the Barnstorm Theater will do something. They do have a Facebook page too which you could use to highlight the problem but on Facebook you use your real name and have to own whatever you post. Plus, it seems to stay up there in previous edits if you do have a change of heart. https://www.facebook.com/BarnstormTheater

[WhoDat]

Does anyone know who owns the movie theaters in TV? Unusually theaters are owned by large companies such as AMC. These companies are careful to make sure they comply with all laws. I think the local management is giving the OP the run around.

[Taltarzac725]

Does anyone know who owns the movie theaters in TV? Unusually theaters are owned by large companies such as AMC. These companies are careful to make sure they comply with all laws. I think the local management is giving the OP the run around.

It looks like the Villages Operating Company but they may contract out certain things like the audio system. There does seem to be a lot of subcontracting in the Villages by the Villages Operating Company.

[looneycat]

Yes, writing a letter to the editor of the online newspaper would be a great place to start.

no, the right place to start would be to write or tell them in person that they are in violation of the ADA and you intend to seek legal recourse unless they comply immediately.

[CFrance]

why not get a hearing aid? Than you could hear at home too .
That's a rather glib answer. I can hear perfectly well--till I get into a movie theater, so I can imagine the problem. The movie audios are not always as clear and concise as, say, your television at home. There's a lot of whispering on screen and other subtleties that just make it harder to hear.

[Taltarzac725]

no, the right place to start would be to write or tell them in person that they are in violation of the ADA and you intend to seek legal recourse unless they comply immediately.

If you want to involve lawyers, that is the best way. To do things in writing. The public relations angle especially with many people in this community who do have problems hearing may be an easier route. I usually find dealing with lawyers expensive and stressful. And they will have their lawyers as well who will be very reluctant to find any fault coming from their clients the Barnstorm Management and the Villages Operating Company. I have also found that lawyers may not want to take a case unless they see that there is money to be made from it. Maybe things have changed though from when I was looking for a lawyer in 2002 here in Florida.

[graciegirl]

That's a rather glib answer. I can hear perfectly well--till I get into a movie theater, so I can imagine the problem. The movie audios are not always as clear and concise as, say, your television at home. There's a lot of whispering on screen and other subtleties that just make it harder to hear.



I had a hearing loss for many years and I was the last to know and amazed how things improved when I got hearing aids.


This thread may be not only a catalyst to fix the problem at Brownwood but to encourage many to seek hearing loss correction. If you find it hard to hear, you have lots of company in The Villages.


I do want to point out that the whispering is cranked to the same decibel level as regular speech in a movie. It is certain tone ranges that hearing impaired people can't hear. For me it is deep voices. My family says that the movies are VERY loud. They are just right for me with my "hearers".


Hearing aids are very expensive and there is NO reason that they should be. I would like to start a campaign to change THAT so everyone could easily afford to get them. Their high cost is similar to the frames being ten times more expensive than sun glasses when you have your glasses prescription filled.


For those who have NOT yet purchased hearing aids, They are usually out of pocket, around two grand EACH.


They are more precious than jewels....and about the same cost too.


Some day they won't be.

[Topspinmo]

Usually it is so loud I have to put cotton balls in my ears.

Yep me too, I have 32 db ear plugs and I only have one ear, plus I don't want to loose the hearing in that ear. I would think with hearing aides in theaters it would blow ear drums out making hearing worst? My ear (where there is no ear) rings so loud after the movies I can hardly hear normal conversation.

[outlaw]

My neck hurts when I go to the movies and sit there for 2 hours. Can I require the theater to provide me a masseuse under the ADA?

[fredpotts]

Stop in there yesterday to see if it was working and they are still waiting for a power plug and that was the answer they gave me a month ago. Do they know what 2 day priority mail is? The power plug is not that big it attaches to a small box that runs the headset. Is the person hand walking the power plug to them? If they are walking from LA I guess we won't see it until after the first of the year. Which give me the thought that they are very bad in math - mailing it would cost less than $15 to mail but hand carrying it would cost them hundreds of $$$$ - food, hotels and shoe replacements LOL

It is now almost three months that their system has not been working. I told them they need to use the same system that OLD MILL and RIALTO (Spanish Springs) uses.

Not only does Old Mill and Rialto headset help hear the movie better but you can control the audio level in either ear.

The previews I can hear very well but when the movie comes on that is when they drop the audio. YES I know it really sucks having bad hearing.

[Taltarzac725]

Stop in there yesterday to see if it was working and they are still waiting for a power plug and that was the answer they gave me a month ago. Do they know what 2 day priority mail is? The power plug is not that big it attaches to a small box that runs the headset. Is the person hand walking the power plug to them? If they are walking from LA I guess we won't see it until after the first of the year. Which give me the thought that they are very bad in math - mailing it would cost less than $15 to mail but hand carrying it would cost them hundreds of $$$$ - food, hotels and shoe replacements LOL

It is now almost three months that their system has not been working. I told them they need to use the same system that OLD MILL and RIALTO (Spanish Springs) uses.

Not only does Old Mill and Rialto headset help hear the movie better but you can control the audio level in either ear.

The previews I can hear very well but when the movie comes on that is when they drop the audio. YES I know it really sucks having bad hearing.

Sorry to hear that they are dragging their feet.

[teachnmo]

I wish they would designate in the theaters ads which movies have the hearing disabled items available . I always have to call them to see if it is appropriate for my two friends who have to use the little box that lets them read the words.

[looneycat]

If you want to involve lawyers, that is the best way. To do things in writing. The public relations angle especially with many people in this community who do have problems hearing may be an easier route. I usually find dealing with lawyers expensive and stressful. And they will have their lawyers as well who will be very reluctant to find any fault coming from their clients the Barnstorm Management and the Villages Operating Company. I have also found that lawyers may not want to take a case unless they see that there is money to be made from it. Maybe things have changed though from when I was looking for a lawyer in 2002 here in Florida.

in this case you don't need to hire your own lawyer, the government has plenty as the theater is and has been in violation of a federal law that requires that they comply in order to operate. it would behoove them to minimally advertise the fact that they don't have the equipment available so people who need it can plan to go elsewhere. there is no excuse.

here is a link on how to file a complaint: How to File an ADA Complaint with the Department of Justice (http://www.ada.gov/filing_complaint.htm)

[golfing eagles]

Hearing aids are very expensive and there is NO reason that they should be. I would like to start a campaign to change THAT so everyone could easily afford to get them. Their high cost is similar to the frames being ten times more expensive than sun glasses when you have your glasses prescription filled.

For those who have NOT yet purchased hearing aids, They are usually out of pocket, around two grand EACH.


I don't understand the cost either. After all, you can listen to the 2 AM infomercial and get "sonic hearing" for $20, and a second one free for "separate shipping and handling". Yes, it is the difference between a Cadillac and a Volkswagen, but in the end they're still just $50 in circuits and transistors

[golfing eagles]

in this case you don't need to hire your own lawyer, the government has plenty as the theater is and has been in violation of a federal law that requires that they comply in order to operate. it would behoove them to minimally advertise the fact that they don't have the equipment available so people who need it can plan to go elsewhere. there is no excuse.

I wish the theater would address this issue ASAP. Surely, we all know that once the government and lawyers get involved, the fines could easily drive them out of business. In that case, EVERYBODY loses.

[tomwed]

I think you ought to be comped for every movie you attended and didn't get to hear while they were working on the problem.

Remember when the 2 young adults caused a disturbance in the theater and the management refused to address the situation or refund the money?

Management needs to be held accountable.

Maybe you can get the Ann Coulter protesters to lend a hand. Now there's a club I'd like to join, the Protesters Club. Just like the good old days. We can sing "We Shall Overhear". This could be fun.

[looneycat]

My neck hurts when I go to the movies and sit there for 2 hours. Can I require the theater to provide me a masseuse under the ADA?

nope because it is not a disability it is just being, er, having a pain in the neck!

[golfing eagles]

nope because it is not a disability it is just being, er, having a pain in the neck!

:1rotfl: Thank you, I like your position a whole lot more now