Types of Places Required to Have Assistive Listening Systems
Where Will You Find Assistive Listening Systems?
Currently, there are thousands of assistive listening systems (hearing loops, FM, and infrared systems) already installed across the United States.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the following places are required have a hearing loop, FM/RF system, or infrared system:
- In ALL indoor or outdoor areas or rooms, with a public address system. These are called “Assembly Areas.“
- In all Courtrooms
- Where Effective Communication is needed, such as service counters, rooms without public address systems, etc.
Assistive Listening Systems apply to: Title I (employment), Title II entities (state and local governments), and Title III entities (businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public).
What Places have Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) requirements?
- amphitheaters
- arenas
- auditoria
- classrooms
- concert halls
- convention centers
- courtrooms
- dinner theaters
- grandstands
- lecture halls
- legislative chambers
- motion picture houses
- performing arts centers
- playhouses
- public hearing rooms
- public meeting rooms
- stadiums
- theaters
While not specifically named in the ADA, these facilities/sites may have assembly areas. Or they may be an area for Effective Communication under the ADA.
- airport gate waiting areas
- comedy clubs
- community rooms, e.g., fire and police station
- cruises
- funeral homes
- gymnasiums
- hotel conference rooms
- information, registration desks
- lifelong learning classrooms
- pharmacy counters
- places of worship*
- senior centers
- senior communities
- transient venues
- transit
- yoga studios
* commonly exempted under the ADA but depends on activities, funding sources, and state or local building codes or regulations. See Religious Entities Under the ADA