EUGENE, OREGON – A federal civil rights lawsuit was filed on July 22, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, alleging that the American Psychological Association (APA) and entities responsible for the Colorado Convention Center failed to provide assistive listening systems (ALS) during the APA’s annual convention in August 2025. The lawsuit, identified as No. 1:26-cv-03311, names the City and County of Denver and related entities owning and operating the Colorado Convention Center, alongside the APA, as defendants. Co-plaintiffs in the action are Dr. Linda Forrest of Oregon, a retired professor and long-standing leader within the APA, and the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), a prominent disability rights advocacy organization. The Center for Hearing Access, a national advocacy network, has publicly supported the lawsuit, emphasizing its commitment to promoting awareness and compliance with accessibility requirements for individuals with hearing loss.
The core of the plaintiffs’ complaint centers on alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law enacted 36 years ago. Specifically, the lawsuit contends that during the APA’s August 2025 convention, held at the Colorado Convention Center, no assistive listening systems were made available in any of the facility’s more than 60 meeting rooms utilized for the event. This alleged omission, the plaintiffs argue, directly contravenes ADA mandates designed to ensure effective communication and equal access for individuals with hearing disabilities in public accommodations.
The Personal Impact: Dr. Linda Forrest’s Experience
Dr. Linda Forrest, a key plaintiff in the case, brings a deeply personal and professional perspective to the legal challenge. A distinguished retired professor with a significant history of leadership within the American Psychological Association spanning over four decades, Dr. Forrest lives with substantial hearing loss. Her ability to effectively participate in professional conferences and academic discussions hinges on the availability and proper functioning of assistive listening technology. She attended the 2025 APA convention not only as an audience member but also as a panel moderator, roles that demand clear auditory comprehension and communication.
In her powerful statement included in the release, Dr. Forrest articulated the profound sense of exclusion she experienced: “The APA has been my professional home for over four decades. While my hearing aids are invaluable, their effective range is only about 6 feet. As my hearing loss has increased, I am understanding less and am increasingly dependent upon ALS to be able to fully participate in these professionally important meetings. Last year while attending the 2025 APA Convention, I understood virtually nothing.”
She continued, emphasizing the preventable nature of her experience: “If an assistive listening system (ALS) such as a hearing loop, FM, or infrared technology had been present as required by the ADA, I would have been a full participant in my annual professional meeting. Without the ALS, I was left out of the exciting intellectual exchanges that regularly occur at professional meetings. I missed descriptions of the latest psychological research and practice developments. I ended up being isolated from my professional peers. All of this happened to me last year, yet it didn’t need to happen. If an ALS had been present, I would have heard everything and been able to participate fully. I am pursuing this lawsuit not only for myself but for the many others who struggle with hearing loss. The technology exists for us to be able to hear and understand. This lawsuit is an effort to make sure that in the future assistive listening technology is present in all of the CCC meeting rooms so individuals who need this help will be able to hear and understand.” Her testimony underscores the critical role ALS plays in enabling full professional and social engagement for individuals with hearing impairments, transforming potential isolation into meaningful participation.
Understanding Assistive Listening Systems (ALS) and ADA Requirements
Assistive listening systems are crucial technological aids designed to overcome common auditory challenges in large venues, such as distance, background noise, and reverberation, by transmitting audio directly and clearly to the listener. These systems are not merely convenience features; they are mandated by the ADA in rooms with sound systems to ensure equitable access for individuals with hearing loss.
There are several types of ALS technologies, each offering distinct advantages:
- Hearing Loops (Induction Loops): These systems transmit audio directly to telecoil-equipped hearing aids and cochlear implants. The telecoil acts as a miniature wireless receiver, converting the magnetic signal from the loop into clear sound, bypassing much of the ambient noise.
- FM Systems: Utilizing radio frequencies, FM systems transmit sound to a personal receiver worn by the user, often with headphones or a neckloop for hearing aid compatibility. They are highly portable and effective over long distances.
- Infrared (IR) Systems: Similar to FM, IR systems use infrared light to transmit audio to receivers. They are ideal for venues requiring high security or where sound bleed between rooms is a concern, as infrared signals cannot pass through walls.
- Bluetooth LE Audio (Auracast): An emerging standard, Bluetooth LE Audio promises to transform public audio accessibility by allowing multiple audio devices to connect to a single broadcast source, potentially enabling direct streaming to compatible hearing aids and smartphones without additional receivers.
The ADA specifically requires public accommodations to provide effective communication for individuals with disabilities. This includes the provision of auxiliary aids and services, such as ALS, where necessary to ensure that individuals with hearing impairments can participate equally in programs, services, and activities. The requirement extends beyond those who use hearing aids or cochlear implants, also benefiting individuals with auditory processing disorders or those who do not use hearing devices but still experience difficulty hearing in challenging acoustic environments. The intent is to provide access proactively, without requiring individuals to request accommodations in advance, thereby fostering spontaneous and inclusive participation in public life.
The Defendants and the Venue: Colorado Convention Center and APA
The lawsuit targets significant entities: the City and County of Denver, along with related organizations responsible for the ownership and operation of the Colorado Convention Center (CCC), and the American Psychological Association. The Colorado Convention Center, a prominent venue in the Western United States, boasts extensive facilities, including numerous meeting rooms designed to host large-scale events like the APA’s annual convention. According to Attorney Andrew Montoya, representing the plaintiffs, the CCC underwent significant expansions in 2005 and again in 2024. Despite these modernizations, the lawsuit alleges that "astonishingly, none of the 63 meeting rooms in the convention center include assistive listening systems." This claim suggests a systemic failure to integrate essential accessibility features even during major renovation projects.
The American Psychological Association (APA) is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States, with over 120,000 members. Its annual convention is a cornerstone event for the psychological community, offering thousands of presentations, workshops, and networking opportunities. The convention serves as a vital platform for disseminating cutting-edge research, discussing clinical practices, and fostering professional development. Given its stature and the intellectual demands of its sessions, the lack of accessible audio for attendees with hearing loss represents a significant barrier to participation for a considerable portion of the professional community. The implications extend beyond individual inconvenience, potentially impacting the diversity and inclusivity of scientific discourse and professional advancement within the field.
Advocacy and Systemic Issues: CCDC and Center for Hearing Access
The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC), founded in 1990, is a non-profit organization renowned for its tireless advocacy for disability rights. Run by and for people with disabilities, CCDC champions social justice for Coloradans across the spectrum of disabilities, striving for full, equitable lives and equal access to all civic, professional, and personal opportunities. Julie Reiskin, CCDC’s co-Executive Director, underscored the straightforward yet critical nature of the issue: “Assistive listening systems help people with hearing loss and many others, but they only work when they are in place.” The CCDC is suing on behalf of itself and its members, asserting that their rights to effective communication at the Colorado Convention Center have been violated and will continue to be denied if the facility remains noncompliant.
Supporting this legal action is the Center for Hearing Access (CHA), a national non-profit advocacy initiative established in 2024 and based in Eugene, Oregon. CHA’s mission is to educate and support consumers, audiologists, hearing instrument specialists, and facility staff about ADA-compliant assistive listening systems and other strategies to encourage continued community engagement for people with hearing loss. Director Ginevra Ralph articulated the broader societal implications: “73 million Americans have some degree of hearing loss and over 98% of them use spoken language to communicate. They have the right under the ADA to expect an assistive listening system to be in place – without having to request it in advance – whenever they attend performances, lectures, conferences, court, city council meetings, and so forth, in order to fully participate in daily community life.” She added, “We hope that Dr. Forrest’s and the CCDC’s suit will ensure that everyone will have this sort of equal hearing access.” The Center for Hearing Access maintains a robust website with practical advocacy resources, reflecting its commitment to empowering individuals and facilities to achieve greater hearing accessibility. By policy, the Center refrains from endorsing specific products or services to ensure impartiality.
Broader Implications and the Future of Accessibility
This lawsuit is not an isolated incident but rather highlights ongoing challenges in ADA compliance across various sectors, particularly in public accommodations and large venues. The Americans with Disabilities Act, signed into law on July 26, 1990, explicitly prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life. While significant strides have been made over the past three decades, full and consistent implementation, especially concerning less visible disabilities like hearing loss, remains a persistent battle.
The case against the City and County of Denver, the Colorado Convention Center, and the APA could set an important precedent for other convention centers, event organizers, and public venues nationwide. A ruling in favor of the plaintiffs would reinforce the imperative for proactive installation and maintenance of assistive listening systems, rather than treating them as optional amenities or only providing them upon specific request. This aligns with the principles of universal design, which advocates for environments and products to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
The economic and social costs of non-compliance are substantial. Beyond potential legal penalties, venues that fail to provide adequate accessibility risk alienating a significant demographic of potential attendees and participants. With an aging global population and increasing awareness of hearing health, the number of individuals requiring ALS is growing. Ensuring accessibility is not just a legal obligation but also a strategic business decision that fosters inclusivity and broadens market reach.
The legal action also underscores the vital role of advocacy organizations like the CCDC and the Center for Hearing Access. These groups often serve as watchdogs, ensuring that the spirit and letter of the ADA are upheld, and empowering individuals to assert their rights. Their collective efforts push for a society where disability is not a barrier to full participation in professional, civic, and cultural life. The outcome of Forrest et al. v. City and County of Denver et al. will undoubtedly be closely watched by disability rights advocates, venue operators, and event planners alike, potentially shaping future accessibility standards and practices across the United States. It serves as a stark reminder that accessibility is an ongoing commitment, requiring vigilance, investment, and a clear understanding of the diverse needs within our communities.
Source: CCDC, CHA
