A UK-based ministry has launched a new autumn initiative aimed at helping churches across the nation become more accessible for the millions of people living with hearing loss.
Open Ears, a Christian charity dedicated to supporting individuals affected by hearing impairment, announced a series of free online training events and technology demonstrations scheduled for this fall.
The autumn programme features two introductory training sessions led by author, speaker, and Open Ears Trustee Emily Owen, alongside a special showcase highlighting live captioning technology.
Owen previously told Christian Daily International that she “knows what it is to be broken and what it is to meet God there.”
Owen was diagnosed with a neurological condition called NF2-Schwannomatosis (NF2) as a teenager and suffered many medical surgeries to combat the health issue. NF2 led to brain surgery causing her to lose hearing traumatically overnight in Nov. 2001 at the age of 21. She also has to walk using crutches because of her condition.
"Many people don't realise how isolating hearing loss can be until they experience it themselves or know someone who does," Owen said.
"My hope is that these sessions will encourage and equip churches to make simple changes that can have a profound impact on people's lives."
More than 12 million people in the United Kingdom currently live with hearing loss, according to charity estimates. Organizers note that without intentional accessibility measures, routine church activities like following a sermon or engaging in post-service fellowship can leave hard-of-hearing attendees feeling isolated.
To address these barriers, the ministry will host two identical one-hour Zoom training webinars on Sept. 7 and Nov. 2.
Designed for ministry teams, church leaders, pastoral staff, and volunteers, the workshops will cover the practical impacts of hearing loss and offer simple steps congregations can implement immediately to foster a more inclusive environment. Participants will also receive post-event resources.
In addition to foundational awareness training, Open Ears will host a specialized technology showcase on Sept. 17.
The evening event will feature Breeze Translate, a tool designed to provide real-time translation and live captioning. Demonstrations will range from basic smartphone setups to integrations with professional church sound systems, highlighting English-to-English live captioning as well as multilingual support.
"Together we can create places where everyone feels welcome, included and able to participate," Owen said.
