[Travelandtourism] Assistive Listening Device Use and Identity Protection

[Peter Donahue]

Good morning everyone,

     Due to my hearing impairment I often take advantage of using 
assistive listening devices when attending various events. When at movie 
theatres or in church this is not an issue. On other occasions I've run 
in to a practice I hoped would have been ended by now due to the 
increased concern over identity theft. Some major venues will give you 
an assistive listening device provided you leave your driver's license 
or an I.D. card with them until you return the device. They ask you to 
leave personal information with perfedct strangers who are free to do 
what they choose with it. If they want my driver's licence/I.D. number 
or ask for a deposit for the device rental is fine. Having to leave my 
personal information in the hands of those I don't know is opening the 
door to identity theft. Also what is one to do if they visit a venue 
that has this policy to obtain an assistive listening device and plans 
to buy merchandise or fill out an application and the vendor requires 
you to show your I.D. which is being held hostige by the venue so you 
can use their assistive listening device. These days RFID systems are a 
much safer means of tracking venue property instead of requiring one to 
surrender their personal information to be able to hear what is going on 
during the event they are attending.

     We've visited hotels where guests are required to wear rist bands 
while they're on property so they and hotel equipment can be tracked via 
RFID to among other things prevent venue property from walking out the 
door..This is a far better alternative than requiring one to surrender 
their personal information to avail one's self of services such as the 
use of assistive listening devices. This issue effects deaf-blind 
travelers which is why I felt it necessary to make people aware of it so 
the NFB and others can address it. All the best.

Peter Donahue