Hello!

My Project

At Camp Sertoma many of the adult leaders and campers are completely deaf and auditory cues or spoken communication are not available to them. Equipment with flashing lights or shaking alarms to alert people during routine situations like waking up or moving to the next activity, something to communicate like a walkie-talkie allows written or visual text, and flashing or other visual cue emergency systems would create a better, more inclusive, camp experience while promoting Scouting goals for diversity, equity and inclusion, helping others at all times, and, of course, the Scout Motto, Be Prepared. 

Here are ways my Eagle Scout project will make a difference: 
 

1. Door knocks when a youth is in the bathroom

     - A hearing person experiences hearing the knock and says “I’m in here!” and the other hearing person hears the response and doesn’t enter. 

     - A Deaf or Hard of Hearing (Deaf/HH) person experiences not hearing the knock or the shout alerting them and enters the bathroom making for an awkward moment.

     - Solution: A kit for a doorbell with flashing lights or installing occupied door knobs to signal to campers and counselors that the bathroom is in use.

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2. Emergency weather alerts 

     - A hearing person experiences weather alerts that sound alarms and communicate emergency 

     - A Deaf/HH person experiences not hearing the alerts on the radio or the weather rolling in like thunder

     - Solution:  A NOAA radio equipped with strobe flashing and a print display would allow everyone to be alerted and provide a visual cue

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3. Text-based communication (not cell signal based)

     - A hearing person experiences verbal communication on typical walkie talkies and shouts during an emergency

     - A Deaf/HH person experiences not hearing the walkie talkies, including in emergencies, and there’s not great cell signal at the camp

     - Solution: Text based or visual messages support this communication need, could be cell signal strengthening or an alternative visual cue system for emergencies

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4.  Morning alarms and schedule maintaining

     - A hearing person experiences morning alarms or camp-wide bell rings to wake everyone up and detail schedules to change activities

     - A Deaf/HH person experiences not hearing alarms, has to use printed schedule and check watch, cannot quickly coordinate timing adjustments

     - Solution:  Alarm clocks with bed/pillow shakers and flashing lights will provide sense and visual cues

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5. Fire/Smoke detector issues

     - A hearing person experiences hearing when a Fire/Smoke detector issues loud alert in an emergency

     - A Deaf/HH person experiences not hearing this alert

     - Solution: Smoke/fire detectors with flashing strobe lights for a visual cue