The worship service begins. The organ plays, the voices sing. And then, at the side of the stage, something new happens. Two hands come to life. They dance, they draw, they express praise with a grace and intensity that captivates the eye. Suddenly, the pastor's sermon no longer has one voice, but two. One is audible, the other is visual. For deaf people, the message finally comes to life. For hearing people, the service takes on an unexpected depth. Adapting a service is not just about adding a service; it is about enriching the liturgy, revealing that the Word of God can be seen as well as heard.

Part 3 of this series looks at forming a pastoral team dedicated to deaf people, focusing on the human and organizational aspects.

We will move from preparation to practical implementation exploring how to adapt worship services and activities in concrete ways to create a truly inclusive experience. Worship begins. 

A new melody for worship: When silence becomes visible

The goal is to create an environment where every person, whether deaf, hard of hearing, deafened, or deafblind, can participate fully and actively in the life of the church. This requires a proactive and thoughtful approach to organizing worship services and parish activities.

A. Use of interpreters and captions

These tools are fundamental to breaking down communication barriers and making the spiritual message accessible to all.

1. American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters

• Crucial role: Sign language interpreters are essential for Deaf people (with a capital "D") who communicate primarily in ASL (American Sign Language). They ensure effective and accurate communication between Deaf and hearing people.
• Cost and funding: Hiring professional interpreters incurs costs. It is the responsibility of the church to allocate a budget for their compensation. Special offerings or annual fundraisers can help cover these expenses. The United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard of Hearing Ministriesmay also offer grants for start-up or special events.
• Essential preparation: To ensure quality interpretation, it is imperative to provide the interpreter with preparation materials in advance, such as sermon notes, song lyrics, prayers, and the order of service.
• Visibility and lighting: The interpreter must be clearly visible and properly lit. Backlighting should be avoided. Lights should not be dimmed to the point of obstructing visibility, as can happen during a Christmas Eve service.
• Team of interpreters: For services or events lasting 90 minutes or more, it is recommended that a team of two interpreters be used to ensure consistent quality.
• Direct communication: Hearing people should always address the deaf or hard-of-hearing person directly, not the interpreter. Saying "ask them" or "tell them" is a form of audism. Audism is a negative attitude or outward prejudice toward deaf and hard of hearing people. It is a form of discrimination which is expressed as unwillingness to accommodate people who cannot hear, or who cannot hear well enough to distinguish speech.
• Special cases: For deaf-blind people, interpreters specializing in tactile sign language are needed, where the deaf-blind person places their hands on the interpreter's hands to feel the signs
• Finding interpreters: Churches can find interpreters through interpreting agencies, state vocational rehabilitation (VR) offices, state deaf and hard of hearing commissions, the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID) website, or college and university interpreting programs

2. Captioning and Real-Time Transcription (CART)

• Definition and benefits: Captioning involves converting audio content into text and displaying it on a screen. It can be "open" (visible to everyone) or "closed" (activated by the user). These methods are particularly useful for people who are hard of hearing and deaf who do not use sign language, as well as for the entire congregation. Studies show that student grades improve when captioning is used.
• Technology options:
  • Captions can be displayed via PowerPoint or other Microsoft products, apps like Otter.ai, on a TV screen, projector, computer, phone, or tablet
  • CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is a real-time, word-for-word transcription service that converts speech into text, provided by qualified stenographers. It can be projected onto a screen, visual display, or laptop. Remote CART is also an option, reducing travel costs. Unlike other options that offer summaries, CART is a faithful and complete transcription.
  • C-Print is a computer-assisted transcription system that provides a condensed version of the speech, projected onto a screen
  • CAN (Computer-Assisted Notetaking) is another system where a typist summarizes the spoken words, displayed on a screen
• Application: It is highly recommended to include captions for online videos, webcasts, podcasts, and DVDs sold by the Church. Enabling captions on televisions in churches, movie theaters, or public places is a simple but effective measure. 

B. Accommodations to promote interaction and engagement

Accessibility goes beyond simple translation; it must enable active participation and a sense of belonging.

1. General visual and audio accommodations

• Complete bulletins and sermon notes: It is essential to provide bulletins that include Scriptures, prayers, hymns, and announcements. Those who use sign language cannot hold a hymn while signing. Sermon notes or outlines can be made available in advance to facilitate understanding.
• Multimedia and visual aids: The use of multimedia, ASL videos, and Christian dramas or visual pantomimes makes services more engaging and understandable. The UMC ASL video glossary can be a helpful resource.
• Large print materials: For deaf-blind individuals, large print materials for bulletins and other documents are necessary
• Lighting and acoustics: Ensuring adequate lighting without backlighting for speakers, interpreters, and participants is essential. Meeting rooms should have good acoustics, with carpeting and curtains to reduce reverberation.
• Assistive Listening Systems (ALS): These systems are crucial for people who are hard of hearing and deaf, as they transmit sound directly to hearing aids or cochlear implants, eliminating background noise and echo. Hearing loops (T-coils)are particularly user-friendly and offer revolutionary speech clarity. FM and infrared systems  are other options. Microphones (lavalier, wireless, or for the audience) must be used consistently and positioned correctly. The DHM offers grants to assist with their installation. It is important to advertise the availability of these systems.

2. Physical space arrangements and interaction

• Seating arrangement: For discussions, a semi-circular seating arrangement can facilitate lip reading and sign visibility. Reserved seating at the front, near the stage or interpreter, may be appreciated by some deaf or hard of hearing individuals; it is always best to ask for their preference.
• General accessibility: Buildings should be physically accessible, for example with ramps for wheelchair users so that they can access the altar
• Hospitality and interpersonal communication: Active hospitality is fundamental. Volunteers should learn to get the person's attention before speaking, to speak clearly and at a moderate pace without shouting, to face the person, and not to cover their mouth. Always ask the individual about their preferred method of communication.
• Repeat and rephrase: If the message is not understood, it is important to repeat or rephrase patiently. For group discussions without a microphone, it is helpful to repeat questions and comments from the audience.

3. Engagement and leadership

• Active participation in worship: Encourage deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind individuals to actively participate in worship. This may include inviting them to sign the Lord's Prayer, serve as greeters or ushers, read Scripture, or even preach.
• Teaching sign language: Incorporate elements of sign language into worship, such as teaching a few simple signs (e.g., "hello," "praise," "Lord," or "Our Father"). Children's or adult choirs can sign songs.
• Fellowship opportunities: Organize fellowship times after worship, ensuring that interpreters are available if necessary, to allow deaf and hard-of-hearing people to connect and feel fully included in the community

Conclusion

Adapting worship services and activities for greater inclusion is not a one-time task, but an ongoing commitment. By combining the judicious use of interpreters and captions with visual, audio, and spatial accommodations, and by fostering a spirit of hospitality and active engagement, churches can transform the worship experience. They move from being a space where silence is a barrier to a place where the divine message is visible, felt, and fully shared. This approach enriches not only the lives of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, but also the entire congregation, creating a more vibrant community that truly reflects the Body of Christ.

The next article in the series will focus on "Encouraging the participation and inclusion of deaf people." In this fifth article, we will explore how to encourage the active participation of deaf people in all spheres of church life and how success stories can inspire a richer and more diverse community.

This series of articles was written based on information and various documentary resources from ResourcesUMC.org, UMC.org & United Methodist Committee On Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Ministries.

Chadrack Tambwe Londe coordinates French-language content in Africa for United Methodist Communications and is a UM News correspondent. He is based in Congo.