Accessibilities Committee

Accessibilities
This committee endeavors to work toward a future where all who want to participate in AA meetings (and other AA services) in Eastern Massachusetts are in fact able to fully participate.
Accessibilities Committee
Purpose
Some alcoholics experience barriers to participating in AA due to cultural, geographic, mental, physical, social factors, or other reasons. This committee endeavors to work toward a future where all who want to participate in AA meetings (and other AA services) in Eastern Massachusetts are able to do so, in a welcoming and accepting environment.
Get Involved
Our committee meets monthly you are welcome to join our committee or simply attend meetings as an interested AA member.
Accessibilities Committee Meeting
The Area 30 Accessibilities Committee meets online on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 6:30PM on Zoom. (Please visit the Area 30 calendar for more info). The monthly meetings move quickly! So to feel prepared, feel free to review the previous meeting minutes and the coming meeting agenda.
Contact Accessibilities
JOIN OUR COMMITTEE OR ATTEND A COMMITTEE MEETING
We meet each month on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6:30 pm-7:30 pm.
You are welcome to attend the meetings as an interested AA or to become a committee member.
We have online meetings so email us at accessibilities@aaemass.org for meeting log-in information.
AREA 30 ACCESSIBILITIES COMMITTEE AT YOUR EVENT
If you are planning a District event or other AA-related event in Area 30, we would be happy to come and do outreach. Please email us at accessibilities@aaemass.org.
During Quarantine
Most AA Members Are Experiencing Barriers to Typical Meetings
Most Area 30 AA members are experiencing barriers to typical AA meetings. To address this, AA groups in Area 30 and across the world have leaped into action to continue to carry our message of recovery despite these barriers; also, many are posting helpful information so we can all continue to share our experience, strength, and hope with one another.
Our Site as a Clearinghouse of Useful Info
Our Committee considers our website to be a clearinghouse of shared resources and information from across the fellowship to help AA groups in Area 30 to continue to carry the message to the suffering alcoholic despite the barrier of social/physical distancing. Given the speed with which new information is being shared, we may not always have the most up-to-date info; also, we cannot endorse or recommend one resource over another. We simply hope to be helpful and invite feedback on how to be more useful.
Please send helpful information to to share here to: accessibilities@aaemass.org
Please note we are not posting meeting information other than www.aa-intergroup.org
Consideration for Members Unable to Participate Online or By Phone
It’s awesome that so many new virtual and telephone meetings are starting--but what about group members who are unable or unwilling to attend meetings online? There are members who find technology to be a barrier to attending AA and are missing out or--even worse--feeling judged or excluded by others attending the virtual meetings. Homegroups may consider checking in with these members with love and support, possibly scheduling talk times to hold a phone meeting. Members could adopt a non-techie member to keep them updated. Think of ways that you and your group can send a message of unity, recovery, and service to all during this isolating time.
Guidance for Online and Telephone Meetings
Suddenly, there is an amazing treasure trove of helpful information on developing virtual (online) meetings, along with tips for maintaining our tradition of anonymity and ensuring safety for meeting attendees.
Group members who were early responders are sharing their experience with us!
- From Los Angeles Intergroup: Recommendations on Zoom settings and useful tutorials for users and moderators https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-s3EVFEuF6Z65Jsl4ICW6v0aliGCAcmWmkzAqXooWaI/edit#gid=0
- From Baltimore intergroup: “Managing Disruptive Participants During Zoom Meetings”: https://baltimoreaa.org/managing-disruptive-participants-during-zoom-meetings/
- From the San Francisco & Marin County Intergroup: Guidance on “How to Carry the Message in a Pandemic!”: https://aasfmarin.org/how-to-carry-the-message-in-a-pandemic
- Tips for managing virtual meeting disruptions from NY AA Intergroup:: https://www.nyintergroup.org/zoom-protection-guide/
Tips on developing successful online meetings: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-s3EVFEuF6Z65Jsl4ICW6v0aliGCAcmWmkzAqXooWaI/edit#gid=0
Let Literature Carry the Message
There are a number of options for content to use to carry the message:
- Videos/Audios https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/videos-and-audios
- Read/Listen/ASL “The Big Book” and Twelve Steps/Twelve Traditions Book https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/read-the-big-book-and-twelve-steps-and-twelvetraditions
- A.A. Archives and history https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/archives-and-history
- A.A.W.S. YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2nfvf9DeDA7QYvLeq4pQ-w
- A.A. Grapevine website : https://www.aagrapevine.org/
- “Reach Out and Touch Someone” published in the August, 1995 issue. From author Bob We used wired landlines in those days, but we could still use conference calling to hold A.A. meetings. The technology has changed since then but the language of the heart remains the same. The article has been given a renewed life on the Grapevine website at https://www.aagrapevine.org/magazine/1995/aug/reach-out-and-touch-so
Guidance for Virtual 7th Tradition Options
AA and a number of AA groups posting helpful information for starting a virtual 7th Tradition option:
- https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/mg-15_finance.pdf
- https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/contributions-and-self-support
- https://aasfmarin.org/online-contributions-your-digital-7th-tradition-guide-to-best-practices
- https://aaphx.org/digital-7th-tradition/
- https://alcoholics-anonymous.eu/online-7th-tradition-and-anonymity/
- https://aasanjose.org/technology
Learning Materials
Let literature carry the message!
Learn how those who experienced barriers to AA or felt different from other AAs have learned that they belong--below are AA pamphlets and other AA literature that demonstrates that the "only requirement for AA membership is a desire to stop drinking" (Tradition 3).
AA Pamphlets and Checklists
AA Accessibilities Checklist:
https://www.aa.org/assets/en_US/smf-208_accessibilitieschecklist.pdf
“The Twelve Steps Illustrated.”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-55_twelvestepsillustrated.pdf
“A.A. for the Older Alcoholic”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-22_AAfortheOlderAA.pdf
“AA for Alcoholics with Mental Health Issues”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-87_AAforAlcoholicswithMentalHealthIssues.pdf
“Access to A.A.: Members Share on Overcoming Barriers”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-83_AccesstoAA.pdf
“Frequently Asked Questions About A.A.”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-2_faqAboutAA.pdf
“Is A.A. For Me?”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-36_isAAforMe.pdf
“LBGTQ Alcoholics in AA”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-32_LGBTQalcoholicsinAA.pdf
“This is A.A.”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-1_thisisaa1.pdf
“This is A.A.” – Large Print
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-56-this-is-aa-large-print-version
“Too Young?”
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-37_tooyoung.pdf
The “God” Word: Agnostic and Atheist Members in AA
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/p-86_theGodWord.pdf
"A.A. for the Native North American"
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-21-aa-for-the-native-north-american
"Do You Think You're Different?"
https://aa.org/assets/en_US/aa-literature/p-13-do-you-think-youre-different
Reopening Our Meetings
Area 30 Points to Consider on Reopening
Area 30 hosted an Open Forum to discuss points to consider on reopening our meetings. Based on the information shared by AA members at that forum along with input from various others, Area 30 Points to Consider were developed.
These living documents may be found at: https://aaemass.org
How can we Help?
Contact Area 30 Accessibilities Committee with any questions and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
- accessibilities@aaemass.org
- 6:30pm 3rd Wednesday of the Month
- On Zoom. (Please visit the Area 30 calendar for more info)

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