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
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Update on our Rally march
Our Rally Day was successfully completed! It consisted of about 100 members of the Deaf communities including Deaf parents, hearing parents of deaf people, Deaf/hearing advocates for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, a Deaf lawyer, Deaf/hearing teachers for the Deaf, interpreters for the Deaf, Deaf/hearing counselors for the Deaf, Deaf senior citizens, Deaf college students, a minister for the Deaf/Hard of hearing, CODAs, Deaf Youth, Deaf/hearing service providers for the Disabled, hearing supporters of the Deaf communities, and other Deaf people from several different counties and cities such as Brazoria (Alvin, Pearland, Angleton, Lake Jackson), San Jacinto (Livington), Harris (Houston, Spring) , Fort Bend (Sugar Land) and Travis (Austin).
A reporter of Houston Chronicle and a Fox 26 cameraperson/reporter came to interview with several of rally-participants including "Esparanza" from Alvin, Deaf advocate for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and other Deaf citizens whose rights were violated by law enforcements through Brazoria County and surrounding counties including Fort Bend and Harris. A local chief police got put on the spot, but was very encouraging.
We all marched around the courthouse several times carrying posters "Communication Access Now". We shouted "Communication Access Now" and "No effective communication = no justice". What a great team work from the C.A.N. Team!!!!!
UPDATE - 05/29/07: We are sorry, but we got informed that Fox 26 cancelled their air of our protest on TV because they wanted it exclusive only.
We all wanted to thank those of you who came to join us even though Angleton was so far away and also wanted to thank those who interpreted very much for our rally.
- The C.A.N. Team
By the way,..........IRONICALLY - there was something happened to other Deaf people in Alvin, where Esparanza's rights were violated, on the same day as our Rally. Read below:
3 Men Flee after Attacking 2 Deaf Women in Alvin
Last Edited: Thursday, 24 May 2007, 4:52 PM CDT
Created: Thursday, 24 May 2007, 4:52 PM CDT
HOUSTON -- Two deaf women were attacked outside their Alvin home early Thursday.
Officers with the Alvin Police Department told FOX 26 News that the two women were sitting outside their home in the 1600 block of Rice Street when three men dressed in black approached them.
The men attacked one of the women. Neighbors told police they saw the other woman trying to escape the man. She was able to get away without injury.
LifeFlight transported the woman who was attacked to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Her condition was not released but hospital officials said she could be released as early as Thursday night.
Alvin police said they do not have a motive for the attack or any suspects.
Detectives said they had difficult communicating with the women because they were using a slang-form of Spanish sign language."
A reporter of Houston Chronicle and a Fox 26 cameraperson/reporter came to interview with several of rally-participants including "Esparanza" from Alvin, Deaf advocate for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and other Deaf citizens whose rights were violated by law enforcements through Brazoria County and surrounding counties including Fort Bend and Harris. A local chief police got put on the spot, but was very encouraging.
We all marched around the courthouse several times carrying posters "Communication Access Now". We shouted "Communication Access Now" and "No effective communication = no justice". What a great team work from the C.A.N. Team!!!!!
UPDATE - 05/29/07: We are sorry, but we got informed that Fox 26 cancelled their air of our protest on TV because they wanted it exclusive only.
We all wanted to thank those of you who came to join us even though Angleton was so far away and also wanted to thank those who interpreted very much for our rally.
- The C.A.N. Team
By the way,..........IRONICALLY - there was something happened to other Deaf people in Alvin, where Esparanza's rights were violated, on the same day as our Rally. Read below:
3 Men Flee after Attacking 2 Deaf Women in Alvin
Last Edited: Thursday, 24 May 2007, 4:52 PM CDT
Created: Thursday, 24 May 2007, 4:52 PM CDT
HOUSTON -- Two deaf women were attacked outside their Alvin home early Thursday.
Officers with the Alvin Police Department told FOX 26 News that the two women were sitting outside their home in the 1600 block of Rice Street when three men dressed in black approached them.
The men attacked one of the women. Neighbors told police they saw the other woman trying to escape the man. She was able to get away without injury.
LifeFlight transported the woman who was attacked to Memorial Hermann Hospital. Her condition was not released but hospital officials said she could be released as early as Thursday night.
Alvin police said they do not have a motive for the attack or any suspects.
Detectives said they had difficult communicating with the women because they were using a slang-form of Spanish sign language."
Incident in Video-ASL
Here is the incident (story) in a video- ASL - click here: www.deafsociety.blogspot.com (under the title of "Tragedy Story: not in 1700's or 1800's. It happened today")
A map for Brazoria County Courthouse in Angleton, Texas
On Thursday, May 24 at 1pm, our rally will take place at Brazoria County Courthouse located at 111 E. Locust St., Angleton, Texas, 77515.
Click the map link: Brazoria County courthouse map
If you have any questions, email at CommAccessNow@yahoo.com or CommAccessNow2@yahoo.com.
Click the map link: Brazoria County courthouse map
If you have any questions, email at CommAccessNow@yahoo.com or CommAccessNow2@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
For those who are afraid to participate in a protest
For those who are afraid to participate in a protest,
That's ok to be afraid, but please remember that our rights to speech is one of our American constitution amendments.
If we don't want to protest because of our fear to be arrested, nobody will take notice. What's more, we will not be arrested if we do not intervene anything and we protest in a peaceful way. Remember, our constitution allows us to speech freely for our rights.
The law enforcements or other agencies would think that we are solid afraid and let them oppress us. Therefore, they would continue violating the Deaf's rights again and again. Want that? Also, it might happen to every Deaf individual. Of course, we thank the police departments to guard us, but two things they ridiculiously miss are a knowledge of Deaf culture and their compliance with ADA. By protesting, the county will take notice, and they would enfore all the police departments throughout the county to follow ADA and to increase their cultural sensivitity toward the Deaf/HH individuals. Also, the protest will be loudly telling the Alvin police department and other law enforcements that what they did to Esparanza and other Deaf individuals was totally unacceptable.
Protesting in a peaceful way will get Brazoria County's attention and maybe even the nation's attention. This will increase law enforcements' communication accessibilty to Deaf/hh individuals and our rights will be correctly honored.
We needed more Deaf/Hard of Hearing people to get involved in the protest. It's URGENT!!!!!!
Fear is a great opportunity to grab, but it gives us a choice.....to use it as a fuel or to surrender to it. By using it as a fuel, Brazoria County's taking notice will be totally successful.
Please come join us and make a difference!
PS - If you are working on that day, you can request for getting that day off from work ( or 1/2 day).
That's ok to be afraid, but please remember that our rights to speech is one of our American constitution amendments.
If we don't want to protest because of our fear to be arrested, nobody will take notice. What's more, we will not be arrested if we do not intervene anything and we protest in a peaceful way. Remember, our constitution allows us to speech freely for our rights.
The law enforcements or other agencies would think that we are solid afraid and let them oppress us. Therefore, they would continue violating the Deaf's rights again and again. Want that? Also, it might happen to every Deaf individual. Of course, we thank the police departments to guard us, but two things they ridiculiously miss are a knowledge of Deaf culture and their compliance with ADA. By protesting, the county will take notice, and they would enfore all the police departments throughout the county to follow ADA and to increase their cultural sensivitity toward the Deaf/HH individuals. Also, the protest will be loudly telling the Alvin police department and other law enforcements that what they did to Esparanza and other Deaf individuals was totally unacceptable.
Protesting in a peaceful way will get Brazoria County's attention and maybe even the nation's attention. This will increase law enforcements' communication accessibilty to Deaf/hh individuals and our rights will be correctly honored.
We needed more Deaf/Hard of Hearing people to get involved in the protest. It's URGENT!!!!!!
Fear is a great opportunity to grab, but it gives us a choice.....to use it as a fuel or to surrender to it. By using it as a fuel, Brazoria County's taking notice will be totally successful.
Please come join us and make a difference!
PS - If you are working on that day, you can request for getting that day off from work ( or 1/2 day).
Esparanza - her public name
The victim's public name (not real name for her protection) is Esparanza.
In Spanish, Esparanza means hope.
In Spanish, Esparanza means hope.
Contact the Alvin Police Department
As per one's request, the phone numbers are below:
Alvin Police Department: 281-388-4370
Brazoria County Sheriff's Department: 979-849-2214
Call in the Alvin Police Department for what they had done.......multiple violations of Esparanza's civil rights. The more pressure, the more calls they will take notice.
Alvin Police Department: 281-388-4370
Brazoria County Sheriff's Department: 979-849-2214
Call in the Alvin Police Department for what they had done.......multiple violations of Esparanza's civil rights. The more pressure, the more calls they will take notice.
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