Ridgewood installs hearing-loop system in Village Hall courtroom to improve accessibility

Ridgewood officials announced on Feb. 25 that a hearing-loop system has been installed and commissioned in the Village Hall courtroom to make meetings more accessible for people with hearing loss.

Carol, the village communications lead, said the system and five assisted-listening devices let people with T-coil-compatible hearing aids or cochlear implants "connect automatically to the system" by switching their device to the T-coil setting. She added the assisted-listening devices can be checked out for those with older or incompatible devices and that the devices will be kept in the IT room and sanitized after use.

Council members asked staff to add a short line to printed agendas noting hearing-loop availability and to hold at least one public demonstration and press outreach as required by the county grant. "This technology really reflects a broader trend around the country," Carol said, noting theaters, libraries and houses of worship are adding hearing loops. Dylan Hansen of IT assisted with installation and testing, council members said.

The system was funded through a Bergen County grant; staff said the grant required public notification and an event to demonstrate the equipment. Heather and access advocates also proposed incorporating the announcement into upcoming Access Week events and library programming to broaden awareness.

Council members said the addition complements other accessibility efforts such as captioning for remote viewers and broader Access Committee work to make village events inclusive for residents with diverse disabilities.

Next steps: staff will publicize the availability of hearing-loop access in eblasts and on printed agendas, schedule a demonstration for the public and include the assisted-listening devices in the municipal sign-out process.