Accessibilities Committee
The District 70 Accessibilities Committee, guided by A.A. principles, helps groups and members find solutions in situations that restrict access to A.A. for fellow alcoholics. If you’re an alcoholic having difficulties accessing A.A. Meetings in District 70, we want to know. Our intention is to create a local A.A. open to everyone with a desire to stop drinking.
What challenges do some AAs face?
It’s important to recognize that all people have access needs, and that our meeting spaces are built around assumptions of what will make individual alcoholics feel welcome. Chairs, coffee, bathroom access, and accessible parking are all aspects of what may make a meeting space feel welcoming to many.
Some barriers alcoholics may experience accessing meetings include: issues of transportation or technology; blindness, low vision or vision impairment; literacy or language differences; the need for childcare for parents and other caregivers; intellectual, sensory, or developmental disabilities; being D/deaf or hard of hearing; being active duty military, or living in remote communities; living with physical disability/chronic illness; or requiring a service animal. This list is meant to be suggestive only, as each person’s individual access needs are unique.
Resources
Contact Us: access@ashevilleaa.org
Accessibilities Checklist for Meetings and Groups: This checklist, courtesy of AA’s General Service Office, is a first step for a group toward knowing what obstacles are built into their meeting.
Accessibility Resources: These are materials made available from A.A. World Services and AA Grapevine/La Viña to support those facing accessibility barriers. Many of the resources are free on aa.org or available to purchase on onlineliterature.aa.org. Resources include: Large Print literature; literature in Braille; Easy to Read Literature; Resources in Audio format; Resources in American Sign Language (ASL), ESH for members facing accessibility barriers; other Service Material.
Literature (ASL)
Big Book
12 Steps and 12 Traditions
Literature (Audio)
Big Book
12 Steps and 12 Traditions
Audio Files of Personal Stories
Lee (Deaf), John (Deaf-Blind)
Military Members/Veterans in AA: Stories told by active duty military and veterans in Audio format
AA Pamphlets
Handouts
- The Only Requirement: Suggestions for Accessible Event Planning (D70 Accessibilities Committee 2024)
- Disability Etiquette (D70 Accessibilities Committee 2024)
- Accessibilities Article Mountain Doin’s, October 2022 – our introduction as a Committee.
Accessibilities Workbook (2025): This Workbook is service material, reflecting A.A. experience shared at the General Service Office. A.A. workbooks are compiled from the practical experience of A.A. members in the various service areas. They also reflect guidance given through the Twelve Traditions and the General Service Conference (U.S. & Canada). (M-481)
Further Online Resources (not affiliated with GSO):
Online AA Intergroup This site is a central source of information about online A.A. around the world.
DeafAA.org Deaf Alcoholic Anonymous meetings & ASL interpreted meetings in the USA/Canada, including Deaf AA on YouTube, Lengua de Señas Mexicana (LSM) and Langue des signes du Québec (LSQ)
AccessAA.org This meeting is a monthly sharing/Q & A session for AA members from USA and Canada with an interest in Accessibilities in Alcoholics Anonymous.