The city of Hamilton is one step closer to being a leader in inclusivity and accessibility for the hearing impaired. A new by-law calls for hearing loops to be installed in all new or renovated city-owned public assembly areas equipped with sound systems and microphones.

Here’s how it works. The loop sends a magnetic, wireless signal that is picked up by anyone wearing a cochlear implant or hearing aid. The hearing loop eliminates the background noise, isolating the speaker during a presentation.

Sackville Hill seniors recreation centre is the first public space to install a hearing loop. The cost of the system was nearly $22 000 which ward 7 councillor Donna Skelly says was paid for through a federal grant. $15 000 in alterations to the space were covered by Skelly’s discretionary budget.

There are about 15 hearing loops installed across the city of Hamilton, the majority of those in churches because they have sound systems and microphones. Now all publicly owned spaces that have the same technology will be required to install hearing loops.