We meet the third Thursday of the month, at 6:00pm the Triangle Club
The Accessibilities Committee focuses on exploring and sharing resources that will make AA meetings more accessible to all alcoholics in District 14. Additionally, we aim to educate AA’s in District 14 on what accessibilities work comprises. Accessibilities is broadly committed to ensuring that the message is accessible to all alcoholics. This includes:
- Alcoholics who use mobility aids
- Alcoholics who may be Deaf, use ASL, or hearing aids
- Alcoholics who are blind or low vision
- Home-bound or Hospital-bound alcoholics
- Alcoholics who use English as a second language, or have limited English literacy
- Alcoholics who are single parents
- Youth and Teen Alcoholics
- LGBTQIA+ Alcoholics
- Alcoholics of Color
- And many more folks included under the broad and roomy definition of access.
In pursuit of upholding the third tradition, which states that “The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking,” this committee believes that there should be no barriers between an alcoholic and the solution.
Here is how we are making the message more accessible in District 14:
We Bring Meetings to Hospitals
When a person is admitted to the Liver Transplant Unit at UF Shands, they are given our number. When contacted, volunteers bring a meeting, AA Literature, and support. This exists on an on-call basis.
We Bring Meetings to St. Francis House
In March 2024, we began bringing meetings to St. Francis House on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month at 10:00am. This is an open meeting.
We Bring Meetings to Changes Healing House
We hold a Literature-Discussion meeting every Tuesday at 6pm. All are welcome.
Virtual Accessibilities Resources
ASL
For Alcoholics who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- People who are Deaf have profound hearing loss and cannot understand speech through hearing, even when sound is amplified.
- People who are Hard-of-Hearing are those with hearing challenges that impair their understanding of speech sounds.
Online Meetings
For Alcoholics who need a virtual meeting
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, Alcoholics Anonymous began holding meetings online. Since then, virtual meetings have continued to make the message more accessible
- Alcoholics might attend an online meeting for a number of reasons, some of which might include anonymity within their house or home, transportation barriers, job or work-life scheduling conflicts, or safety constraints
Loners- Internationalist & Remote Communities
For Remote or Isolated Alcoholics
- The Loners-Internationalists Meeting (LIM) is a confidential bimonthly bulletin sent to Loners, Homers, Internationalists, Port Contacts, and Loner Sponsors
- The bulletin contains excerpts from LIM members’ letters that are sent to the General Service Office (G.S.)) of Alcoholics Anonymous.