an incident in Florida

As you all know DHS of Lake & Sumter Counties provides advocacy, programs and services for our Deaf and hard of hearing community. There is a Deaf family well known to us. Last Thursday night DCF arrived at this woman's house and took her 2 children. The law states that an interpreter must be provided to ensure effective communication and this was not done despite the fact that the social worker was specifically told the week before that she would need to do this and was provided with instruction as to how to obtain the services of an interpreter. Instead, the social worker decided that it was okay to use a "neighbor" that supposedly knew sign language. What transpired is that the woman did not understand why her kids were being taken and because of the communication fiasco, the police were called and it was communicated that the Deaf woman had stated that she wanted to kill herself. The police didn't call for an interpreter either and then made a determination to Baker Act the woman to Lifestream!! DCF constantly cites confidentiality, yet somehow it was okay to use an unknown person to supposedly provide interpreting. The Deaf woman (and I believe her) did not indicate that she wanted to kill herself, but she was understandably upset about the kids. First thing Friday morning we went to see her at Lifestream and attended her psychiatric appointment with her later that afternoon. The psychiatrist stated "All I see here is a woman upset about her children." He then released her to go home and we took her home.I am pleased to report that by the end of the day yesterday, folks at DCF were all stumbling over themselves to attempt to explain and justify what happened.

Kimberly M. House,President/Executive DirectorDeaf and Hearing Services of Lake & Sumter Counties, Florida