Big Book and 12&12 in ASL
Deaf Alcoholics’ Personal Stories
Stories by and about Deaf alcoholics the A.A. Grapevine magazine:
- We Can Do It – Aug 2022 – A deaf member’s story about how to make AA meetings more accessible to all.
- A Warm Welcome – Oct 2019 – “I am a Deaf alcoholic with over 15 years of sobriety. I decided to write this to help others better understand me and others with disabilities.”
- From My Hands to My Soul – Oct 2019 -“As a sign language interpreter, I was assigned to accompany a Deaf man who was required to attend 90 AA meetings in 90 days…”
- Silence Falls – Mar 2015 – “Right around the time I got sober, when I was 38, I lost hearing in my left ear… Then, I began gradually losing the hearing in my right ear, too…”
- We Belong – May 2014 – In Michigan, a member helps a Deaf newcomer join a group and finds the true meaning of sharing in the process.
- Signing for Sobriety – Feb 2014 – “I am a member of AA and I am also Deaf. This is my story. I first came into AA when I was 19.”
- Quiet Love – Oct 2012 – “I was forced into early retirement due to becoming too Deaf to understand the spoken word; too Deaf to respond to instructions; too Deaf to mingle with fellow humans. I turned to alcohol as a way to bide my time in a hearing society.”
- Meeting of the Minds – Oct 2004 -“Alcoholism seems to be an equal opportunity disease among the Deaf as well as the Hearing community, so we have started a Deaf AA group in Washington, D.C.”
By permission, copyright A.A. Grapevine
Meeting Guide for Smartphones
A free app provided by A.A. General Service Office to find A.A. meetings near them. Meetings can be easily filtered to show only ASL and/or Online meetings.
Available for iOS and Android – click the icon or title for more information and download links.
How PDAC Fits Into AA
Some AA members have asked whether the Portland Deaf Access Committee is part of Oregon Area 58 or the Accessibility Committee. Here’s a reply from Madeleine P., Area 58 Past Delegate, Past Pacific Regional Trustee, and PDAC Fundraising Chair I wanted to take a moment to speak to who Portland Deaf Access Committee are and…
Why ASL?
An explanation for hearing persons A common misconception about American Sign Language is that it is a simple translation of English. Native Deaf ASL users find it difficult to process written text because it’s actually a whole different language. Signed languages have a grammatical and sentence order very different from spoken and written languages and…
Message to Portland A.A. Groups
From Portland Deaf Access Committee Dear AA Groups, If you are approached by a Deaf person who wants to attend your meeting, PDAC is here to help. Please reach out to us through email info@pdacaa.org. We can help to arrange a certified ASL interpreter who is familiar with AA concepts, our language of the heart,…
Accessibility Information from GSO
Links to resources on the General Service Office website (AA.org): A.A. Guidelines on Accessibility for All Alcoholics A.A. Guideline on Sharing the A.A. Message with the Deaf Alcoholic Accessibilities Workbook Pamphlet P-83 Access to A.A.: Members Share on Overcoming Barriers Suggested Accessibilities Committee Activities Contact G.S.O.’s Accessibilities Desk All Accessibilities Resources Available from GSO Products…
Access needs for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Alcoholics
When addressing access needs please ask the Deaf, late-deafened or Hard of Hearing AA member what form of translation works best for them. There is no one right answer to this question. Deaf, late-deafened, and Hard of Hearing individuals are not all educated in the same way. Some attended Deaf institutes, some were mainstreamed, and…
How to Find a Certified ASL Interpreter
Ask the Deaf AA members to recommend a certified interpreter. Contact your local AA Access Committee. Find a certified interpreter through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf website. Contact a local Deaf or Hard of Hearing agency and request a referral. How to work with an interpreter – Professional interpreters follow the Code of Professional…