Hearing accessibility resources in Merit Hearing communities
Hearing loss should not keep you from enjoying a performance, visiting a museum, participating in your community, or getting help in an emergency. This guide highlights practical accessibility programs in communities served by Merit Hearing offices in West Des Moines, Ankeny, Jefferson, Council Bluffs, Omaha, St. Louis, and North Palm Beach.
Last updated: August 11, 2026 | Services and schedules can change. Please confirm accommodations directly with the organization before your visit.
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Accessibility terms used on this page
- Assistive listening devices (ALDs): Venue-provided receivers that send clearer sound to headphones, earbuds, neck loops, or compatible hearing technology.
- Hearing loops / induction loops: Systems that send sound directly to hearing aids or cochlear implants equipped with an activated telecoil (T-coil).
- Open or closed captions: Text versions of dialogue, lyrics, and important sounds. Open captions are visible to everyone; closed captions may appear on a personal device, tablet, or app.
- ASL-interpreted performances: Selected performances include American Sign Language interpreters. Some venues can also arrange interpretation with advance notice.
- Sensory-friendly performances: Modified performances that may reduce sound or lighting intensity, allow movement and breaks, and provide additional support.
- Relay and communication equipment programs: State programs that help people who are Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, or have speech disabilities communicate by telephone and other technology.
Des Moines, Ankeny & Central Iowa
Des Moines Performing Arts
Offers ASL interpretation for selected performances, an induction loop for telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants, venue-provided assistive listening devices, Listen Everywhere Wi-Fi audio, and sensory-friendly programming.
Des Moines Playhouse
Offers telecoil hearing-loop technology and assistive listening devices. Signature Series productions can use GalaPro closed captioning, and the Playhouse regularly schedules ASL-interpreted performances, audio description, and select sensory-friendly family performances.
Des Moines Art Center
The Art Center strives to provide live captioning for events in Levitt Auditorium and can provide ASL interpretation for museum programming upon request. It also hosts free Deaf & Hard of Hearing Community Art Gatherings and offers sensory supports, adaptive art supplies, descriptive transcripts, and other accommodations.
Statewide Iowa resources
- Telecommunications Access Iowa: Helps eligible Iowans obtain specialized telecommunications equipment at little or no cost. Its voucher program can cover approximately 95%–99% of the average cost of eligible equipment, depending on the device. Learn more.
- Relay Iowa: Connects people who are hearing, Deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech difficulties by telephone. Dial 711 for TTY, Voice Carry Over, Speech-to-Speech, Spanish Relay, and other options. View Relay Iowa.
Jefferson & Greene County, Iowa
Greene County Community Center
The Community Center has a digital sound system for its televisions. Visitors can bring a compatible digital headset and tune to the station number shown beneath the television they want to hear. Jefferson-area patients can also use the statewide Iowa programs listed above.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha Performing Arts
Offers assistive listening systems and advance-request ASL interpretation across venues including the Orpheum Theater and Holland Performing Arts Center. Selected performances are also scheduled with ASL interpretation.
Omaha Fire Department — Deaf & Hard-of-Hearing Information
The Omaha Fire Department maintains a dedicated information page for Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents, including emergency-preparedness and communication information worth reviewing before an emergency occurs.
Nebraska Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing: A statewide source for Deaf and hard-of-hearing services, community information, and accessible public events. Visit NCDHH.
Council Bluffs, Iowa
City of Council Bluffs — Effective Communication & ADA Accommodations
The city can provide appropriate aids and services so qualified people with disabilities can participate equally in city programs, services, meetings, and activities. This can include qualified sign-language interpreters and other communication accommodations. Requests should be made as early as possible and generally no later than 48 hours before a scheduled event.
Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center
The Hoff Center hosts theater, ballet, orchestra, art, and cultural programming. Accessibility accommodations can vary by event, so contact the venue or presenting organization before purchasing tickets if you need hearing-related accommodations.
Local note: Merit Hearing serves patients from offices in both Council Bluffs and Omaha, so metro-area patients can also use the Omaha resources listed above.
St. Louis, Missouri
The Muny
Assistive listening devices with headphones or neck loops are available nightly at no charge. Monday and Saturday performances include live ASL interpretation and closed captioning through GalaPro or a venue-provided tablet.
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
Offers designated closed-captioned, ASL-interpreted, and audio-described performances. Handheld captioning devices can also be used from non-accessible seats, and accessible performance dates are published by the theatre.
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
Provides free assistive listening headsets for Mainstage productions and an open-captioned Sunday matinee, with reserved seating positioned for caption visibility.
Additional St. Louis resources
- Touhill Performing Arts Center: Offers personal assistive listening devices and advance-request ASL interpretive services. View accessibility information.
- City of St. Louis Communication Services: Services can include sign-language interpretation, video relay, Braille, and large-print materials. View city communication services.
- Hearing Loss Association of America — St. Louis Chapter: Maintains a list of Greater St. Louis locations known to offer hearing loops, captioning, and other assistive-listening accommodations. Browse accessible locations.
Palm Beach County, Florida
Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Offers an infrared assistive listening system in Dreyfoos Hall, Rinker Playhouse, and Persson Hall. The first Saturday matinee of Kravis On Broadway presentations includes open captioning, and sign-language interpretation is also offered as part of its accessibility services.
Additional Florida resources
- Palm Beach County Text-to-911: Residents and visitors can text 911 during a life-threatening emergency when making a voice call is not possible. Calling remains preferred when it is safe and possible. Learn how Text-to-911 works.
- Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI): Provides specialized communication equipment at no cost to qualifying Florida residents who are Deaf, hard of hearing, DeafBlind, or speech impaired. Florida Relay can also be reached by dialing 711. Explore FTRI.
Before you go
- Check your hearing aid settings. A venue hearing loop generally requires an enabled telecoil program.
- Request accommodations early. ASL interpreters and some services may require several days or weeks of notice.
- Ask where captions are visible before choosing seats. Some theaters reserve particular seating areas.
- Bring your phone charged. Apps such as GalaPro or Listen Everywhere may provide captions or assistive audio.
- Ask about a neck loop. A venue receiver may be able to send sound directly to a telecoil-equipped hearing aid or cochlear implant.
Can Merit Hearing help?
If you are unsure whether your hearing aids have a telecoil, how to activate an accessibility program, or how to connect your hearing technology to a venue’s assistive listening system, ask your Merit Hearing audiologist. We can help you understand what your devices can do and how to get more benefit from them outside the clinic.
Know of a useful local accessibility program we should add? Let Merit Hearing know about captioned performances, hearing loops, assistive-listening systems, Deaf and hard-of-hearing programs, emergency resources, or other accessibility services in our communities.