Accessibility/Special Needs

Our Purpose:  Explore, develop, and offer alternatives so the AA message (Steps, Traditions and Concepts) is accessible to everyone who reaches out for it. Help all AA members better understand how to carry the message to those members with special needs. The respect for the dignity of others is the foundation for all our efforts to carry the message to the alcoholic with special needs with the emphasis on identification.

What we do:  Be a place for the alcoholic with special needs or other AA members to reach out to for help. Act as a clearing house for information to share the accumulated experience and knowledge in the Special Needs arena. Raise the awareness of Special Needs throughout AA.

How do we do it:  Provide a focal point for people with special needs. Bring awareness of Special Needs to the highest level of AA and work to bring assistance to the individual with a special need. SENY defines AAs with special needs as persons who are blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, wheelchair users, homebound or chronically ill, developmentally disabled or sober over sixty.

Blind or Visual Problems -

AA literature in Braille, audio tapes and large print.

Deaf -

ASL interpreted meeting and Closed Caption AA tapes.

Homebound or Chronically Ill -

Maintain a Home Meeting List of Volunteers who can bring a meeting into a home or hospital.

In need of assistance in getting to a meeting -

Call a group member to help.

Limited reading skills/Developmentally Disabled -

Encourage group members to spend a little extra time with them.

Physically Challenged -

Wheelchair accessible meetings.

Sober Over Sixty (SOS) -

Night driving, health, weather, etc.

What we are not:  Doctors, lawyers, social service workers or a taxi service.

Summary:  There are material and services available for alcoholics with special needs. If you know of an alcoholic with special needs, want more information or wish to join our efforts all you need do is contact your County Special Needs Committee Chairperson or specialneeds@aaseny.org