Photo of Professor Khiara Bridges with captions
Berkeley Law Professor Khiara Bridges giving an OLLI presentation remotely in 2020

Ensuring Accessibility

OLLI @Berkeley is committed to ensuring that courses and events are equally accessible to people with disabilities. 

If you require an accommodation for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about mobility access features in order to fully participate in our courses and events, please let us know with as much advance notice as possible and at least 7-10 days in advance of the event.

Captioning
  • All of our live online courses and events are captioned in real time using Zoom captioning technology.
  • Captions of our public-facing events are carefully reviewed and enhanced to ensure maximum accuracy prior to being shared on our YouTube channel. If you require captioning of our class videos, please let us know, and we will make that available to you.
Hearing Accessibility in Physical Classrooms

With hearing loss so common, we strive to make our classrooms accessible. All of our faculty are asked to wear microphones, and we encourage students to let faculty members know if their speaking style presents difficulties. In addition, most of our classrooms have assistive listening options such as hearing loop systems, which transmit sound directly from a microphone into the telecoil (t-coil) in a hearing aid, bridging the distance between speaker and listener. 

  • Freight and Salvage: hearing loop system that transmits directly to hearing aids with a t-coil; t-coil wearers should sit within the looped area of the auditorium (view seat map). Assistive listening devices also available on request.
  • University Hall 150: assistive listening devices available on request.
  • University Hall 41B: hearing loop system transmits directly to hearing aids with a t-coil.
  • University Hall 41C: speakers use a microphone. 
  • Lafayette Library and Learning Center: assistive listening devices available on request. 
  • Magnes: speakers use a microphone. 
  • Read an OLLI member’s perspective on hearing in our classrooms from our August 2016 OLLI Outlook . 
Hearing Loops are the preferred assistive listening technology for people with hearing loss.

Telecoils (t-coils) are built into most hearing aids currently on the market. If you consult with an audiologist, be sure to ask about t-coils. Read more about hearing loops and t-coils from the Hearing Loss Association of America. 

Personal sound amplifiers

Personal sound amplifiers are not a substitute for hearing aids, but they can be useful in settings like a noisy restaurant. In classrooms or lecture halls, other assistive listening devices are usually more helpful.