News from the
United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries,
a unit of the General Board of Global Ministries

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In this issue: Hearing Loops,

a "back to school" season list of events,

and a remembrance of Sandy Ferguson

How Hearing Loops Revolutionized my  World 

by Ibrahim (Ib) Dabo



Hearing Loops Significantly Improved My Understanding of Speech


“T-coils” (or telecoils) and “hearing loops” came across to me as such technical terms that I never took the time to learn about them (how ironic for someone who works in the information technology field). Yet these are some of the most amazing technologies available to people with hearing loss. 


When I experienced hearing loops for the first time — seven years after I started using hearing aids — it completely revolutionized my world of hearing. The clarity and proximity of speech is one I never imagined. It significantly improved my understanding of speech and increased my confidence to communicate in challenging settings.


Before this amazing experience, I met with Juliëtte Sterkens in July 2021. Juliette is an audiologist and hearing loop advocate with the Hearing Loss Association of America, who shares expert advice on the installation of hearing loop systems in places of worship. Midway through our conversation, Juliette asked, “Does your hearing aids have t-coils?” to which I responded, “What’s t-coils again?”


That seemingly bizarre yet astonishing moment for me resulted in taking on Juliëtte’s advice to check with my audiologist if my hearing aids came with t-coils and then activate it. Thankfully, it all worked out beautifully. A t-coil is “a wire that is installed inside many hearing aids and cochlear implants to act as a miniature wireless receiver.”  


Once my t-coils were activated I wondered why none of the audiologists I had seen over the years ever told me about the technology meant to significantly improve my hearing in challenging circumstances, where hearing loops are available. 


Imagine going to church year after year and unable to understand the Word being preached. So was the case for me and I wondered why I struggled with my faith. I did not know what I was missing until I experienced new sounds through my hearing aids and with hearing loops. 


Experiencing Hearing Loops for the First Time


In fall 2021 I attended a Board Meeting of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). Inside the HLAA headquarters in Maryland is a state-of-the-art conference room equipped with a hearing loop system. Once I switched my hearing aids program to t-coils mode and heard the crisp sound that came through for the first time, I lit up with joy and excitement like a kid who had just been handed a bag of candy. I exclaimed: “Wow! Amazing.”  


Such is the experience I desire for everyone who can benefit from hearing loop systems. It reduces stress and isolation, enhances understanding of speech, and boosts self-confidence to communicate effectively.


The Future and Why We Must Work Together


What I have experienced with hearing loss and the use of technology drives my passion and advocacy work for the installation of hearing loops in places of worship. It is a reason I am engaging with leaders in The United Methodist Church and other denominations in collaboration with HLAA to install hearing loops in their places of worship.


People experiencing hearing loss also truly and fully need to experience the Spirit of God at work through His Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing of the Word of God. And if we cannot understand the Word of God in church, then, in essence we are denying God’s children the opportunity for their faith to be fully nurtured, especially if the place of worship has the capacity and resources to install hearing loops.


Even beyond the church, I believe places like airports, conference centers, and hospitals should consider installing hearing loop systems. 


And I encourage audiologists to do a better job of educating consumers of all the features that come with their hearing devices. Special thanks to the audiologists who already do so.


There’s truly beauty in hearing sounds well. For someone who had unknowingly tackled hearing loss for at least 15 years before my diagnosis, I know what it feels like to finally hear sounds clearly. And what’s even better than hearing sounds that truly nourishes our faith in places of worship? I certainly hope we can seize this moment to work together and count all of God’s children in with the opportunities they need to understand speech clearly.

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For information about hearing loops and church installations funded by DHM grants,

visit the Assistive Technology section at our website.


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Ibrahim (Ib) Dabo is the Director of Enterprise Business Systems for Global Ministries, the global mission agency of The United Methodist Church. Also a motivational speaker, Ib is a commissioner for the Georgia Commission for the Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Board Member for the Hearing Loss Association of America. Visit his website at www.IbDabo.com to learn more about his work.

Deaf Worship Service September 24

September 24

International Deaf Awareness Week Online Service


Celebrate International Deaf Awareness Week! On September 24, 2022, the UMCD will host a worship service at 11:00 a.m. Eastern time. Register with Zoom for this service, which will have ASL, captions, and voice interpretation. International Deaf Awareness Week, and International Day of Sign Languages, are celebrated during the last full week of September: learn more here.

Delaware Association of the Deaf

September 24: Delaware Deaf Expo


Be a bit of salt to the earth? Delaware Deaf Expo is September 24. Hint for other churches and Deaf ministries: many members of Grace United Methodist Church of Wilmington will be helping! Many such community events are a way to reach out. 

October 15: Deaf Ministry Training

Deaf Ministries: An Overview to Get You Started” will be on Saturday, Oct 15 at 11am Eastern via Zoom. This 90-minute training is for churches and ministries in The United Methodist Church who would like to explore starting a Deaf Ministry. Questions about the training can be submitted to Rev. Dr. Leo Yates at leoyjr@gmail.com. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pc-2vrjIqGtNLuLUc98yDrkmMrAQDFvuC


Certified Deaf Lay Servant: Pastoral Care Best Practices” will be on Saturday, October 15 at 1pm Eastern via Zoom. This 90-minute training will be conducted in ASL. Questions about the training can be submitted to Rev. Dr. Leo Yates at leoyjr@gmail.com. Register at https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIqf-iqpzkpGtBRXxpTZ6SZfTTFr45yFqBf 

Red Bird Mission Work Camp

Red Bird Mission

The UMCD will join the ELM group on a trip to Red Bird Mission in August 2023. A deposit is due by October 1. Visit the UMCD for more information and registration.

In Memoriam: Sandy Ferguson

Sandy Ferguson

Sandy Ferguson was known as a strong advocate and ally for Deaf Ministries in the Baltimore-Washington Conference. She served on staff at the mission center for many years. She advocated for funds to be approved for Deaf Ministries that supported pastor salaries at Christ Church and Magothy, as well as funding support for the Deaf Shalom Zone coordinator. Sandy will be remembered for many things, especially for social justice. Read the full notice and BWC resolution.

Looking for an ASL or captioned service? See the Ministry Directory and add your church if it's not listed, or send a correction: umdeaf@gmail.com. 

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Advance




Monday Night Deaf Bible schedule for September

watch for more Mondays through the year!

September 12: Nick Testone from Rhode Island

September 19: Vanessa Austria from Canada

September 26: Vanessa Magnon, Breakthrough Corner

Deaf Bible Study Mondays at 7pm Eastern

BWC Accessibility Conversations


The Commission on Disability Concerns of the Baltimore-Washington Conference sponsors a series of conversations on disability, accessibility, and sharing, on the first Friday of every month at 11:00 Eastern time. More information

We close with some photos from the Yatosha Deaf Project in Tanzania, which we've covered in previous issues of the newsletter. James Ireri (wearing green lab coat) came to Tanzania from Kenya to train Deaf and hearing people in three locations in vertical farming and drip irrigation. Pictured wearing a blue t-shirt with the UM-DHM logo is Nyasinde "Pablo" Rashid, director of the Yatosha Deaf project of the Tanzania Annual Conference.

Two dark-skinned men demonstrate a farming tool
a group surrounds a planter
a man shows irrigation techniques

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