This blog was written by Bella di Sicilia, Armiger (she/they).

July is Disability Pride Month, which began right here in the East Kingdom in 1990! 

Disability Pride Month celebrates and elevates members of our community living with disability, and recognizes that disability culture is a distinct and enriching form of diversity. As the East Kingdom’s Accessibility Porter notes, accessibility is an important form of Courtesy and Chivalry; our Kingdom provides many forms of accommodation such as access to refrigeration, fee waivers for Personal Care Attendants, ASL sign heralding, and creating more accessible court layouts.  

Under the auspices of that last category, Their Highnesses would like to draw more attention to a valuable form of accommodation – which is used by our Kingdom in conjunction with East Kingdom Public Broadcasting and the Office of the Accessibility Porter – the Assistive Listening System (ALS).

The East Kingdom is currently pioneering the use of the ALS, designed by Master Joel Messerer, OP, which helps members of our community participate in Their Majesty’s Courts. Using audio streaming technology, which can be transmitted to a hearing aid or phone, the system allows listeners to enjoy Court announcements and conversations from up to 300 feet away. It is currently administered by the Kingdom’s Deputy Tech Chamberlain, Margrave Cristoff Gockerhan von Loch, OP.

The system can be used by members of our Kingdom who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, but it conveys benefits to all. For example, members of our Kingdom who toil in the kitchens during Court, or are sitting in the back of Court, can participate more easily using this technology. 

The East Kingdom’s ALS system illustrates how recognizing disability culture and providing accommodation can enrich our entire community. Their Highnesses intend to have the ALS system at as many Royal Progress events as they can during their Winter Reign.