Audio Accessibility at Summer Events Around Vancouver
I didn’t have ‘improved audio accessibility’ on my summer events bingo card but as someone who wears hearing aid, and who sponsors and attends dozens of events, I am really excited about this innovation!
Individuals with hearing loss can now enjoy clear, high-quality audio at some of Vancouver’s most beloved live events using an app on their phone this summer. Wavefront Centre and several local events and festivals have partnered to use Bettear, an AI-powered assistive listening solution that transforms how hard of hearing individuals experience social interactions.
If you use Bluetooth-enabled hearing aids or cochlear implants, Bettear streams audio directly to your device for a more immersive experience.
Audio Accessibility at Summer Events Around Vancouver
These are the events (so far) where you can log into the app, connect to the event audio, and try out the experience.
- Bard on the Beach, June 10 to September 20
- Theatre Under The Stars, June 27 to August 16
- Vancouver Folk Music Festival, July 18 to 20
- City of Burnaby Events, ongoing all summer long
- Metro Theatre Vancouver, 2025 season opens September 5
My first attempt with this will be at Burnaby’s Classical Weekend (this Sunday, July 13) as well as Theatre Under the Stars next week. I already tried the demo on the app, and my Phonak program switches over to the Bluetooth + Streaming setting that I use when I’m on my computer or iPad for example. In this program I am crank up the Ambient balance to focus on what’s coming through the device vs surroundings. I’ll be curious to see how that will play out with live music, but also having a conversation with John at the same time. I’ll report back!
