It's really important to consider something called the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) when we talk about accessibility for people who are deaf. This law ensures that individuals with disabilities, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, have equal rights and access to services. So, when I had those frustrating experiences with closed captioning devices at the movie theater, it got me thinking about whether they were following the ADA guidelines.

This morning I went to see The Flash at Barton Springs AMC theatre in Austin, Texas. They advertised close captioning for the IMAX screening at 9:30 am, both online and in theater. I went in, but the captioning device just wouldn't connect. I was really upset because this wasn't the first time it had happened to me. Frustrated, I decided to ask for the manager, Andy, who was in charge that day. Andy's attitude was completely unprofessional and rude. He said to me, "IMAX doesn't work with close captioning devices," even though he was the one who set and handed me the device in the first place? It felt like he didn't care about my needs or the ADA requirements at all. I could see him yelling and shrugging his shoulders at me, a deaf person. I have experienced discrimination not only from Andy but also throughout my life, consistently facing the same discriminatory treatment from AMC as a whole.

Honestly, it's disappointing to see how closed captioning devices can fall short and create barriers for people who are deaf. Many times, they're just not available or they don't work properly, which can be really frustrating. It's like they're not considering the needs of deaf individuals when it comes to enjoying a movie-going experience. In my opinion, open captioning would be the best solution to make movies accessible to everyone without any hassle. But, you know what? It's really rare to find open captioning in theaters. Usually, they only have it for one showing per week, which is not enough.

Considering the ADA's focus on equal access and inclusion, it's disheartening to see how some movie theaters fail to meet those standards. I strongly believe that theaters, like AMC, should step up and provide open captioning on a daily basis in all their theaters. It's not just about following the law; it's about creating an inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy movies without any limitations.