No one in Texas wants to hire an interpreter!

LuciaDisturbed · 04-09-2009, 02:14 AM

I've been trying for the past few months to see a neurologist and a rheumologist, but NO ONE will shell out the cash for an interpreter, even though they are aware of the liability if they don't hire one. I warned them that it is a violation of the ADA laws, they tell me they don't give a flying fuck about that and that they don't want to hire an interpreter, and they won't even see me and let me write back and forth...they just can't be bothered to deal with deaf patients! I am so frustrated and I do not know what to do anymore. I seriously need a wheelchair, and I seriously need to find out what the hell is wrong with me, but no one wants to do tests and treat me. I have a harder time getting around some days, and other days I am ok. I have good days and bad days, but on the bad days and on days where there is a lot of walking involved (such as Six Flags and Sea World and Schlitterbahn Park) I seriously need a wheelchair. I can barely walk more than a block now. It hurts to walk a lot of the time, and sometimes my legs below my knees goes numb completely. My issues are really getting in the way of my quality of life and only if I had a wheelchair it wouldn't be such an issue. I never had this refusal to hire interpreters issue in Minnesota, in fact ALL the doctors and ALL the clinics in Minnesota are so scared of the liability issue that they totally insist on hiring an interpreter no matter what. But down here in Texas they don't care about liability. They just can't be bothered. They don't care. I feel like no one cares. I seriously need to know what is happening to me and why and they won't do anything. I can't get a lawyer cause I don't have the money, I am on a fixed income, so I am stuck. I can't do anything about it anymore. Because of this, I am at home most of the time stuck at the computer or watching movies all day long because I can't really do anything else outside of the home, I can't go out and have fun most of the time, the only times I ever leave my apartment is to go to the doctors or to go to deaf bowling with my fiance where all I do is sit and chat with the other deafies who do not bowl but come just to socialize. I can't even bowl more than one game, if I do bowl more than one game my hips get really pissy with me, and so does my back. I have 2 injured discs in my lower back as well as peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia, but I think there is something worse going on with me given the symptoms I am having right now. I don't know what to do anymore and I am so frustrated and tired and pissed and sad. My fiance is worried about me. I don't know what to do. My body is waging a war on itself, and I will lose the war if no one will help me. I try to fight, but no one will help. I can't win if no one will help me. Do any one know what to do? I need some some advice and some suggestions. And no, I'm not moving out of Texas, that is completely out of the question. I can't threaten legal action because NO ONE cares about liability, they don't even care if I try to sue. They just don't give a flying fuck. I really, really, really want my hip and my back fixed so I can have a normal life again. I can't even work. I'm on SSI/SS for a really long time. I can't depend on SSI/SS forever, I don't think it will last long, given the terrible economy nowadays. If I at least had a wheelchair, my quality of life might be better. Right now I kind of feel like an invalid, and I don't like that. I would like to go out and do fun stuff all the time, go downtown on the bus, visit the riverwalk and go to the mall and go to the art museum across town. A wheelchair would allow me to do all those things (all the buses here are accessible and have ramps and spaces for wheelchair users. I would like to go to Walmart and not have to use their awful motor carts. They suck, they are VERY SLOW (slower than a person walking!), and sometimes they make a clunk clunk clunk noise all the time that is EXTREMELY ANNOYING. My fiance even says the motor cart is VERY LOUD when it runs. I don't have a disabled parking placard because I don't have a car of my own, so my fiance has to drop me off at the front doors of Walmart or any other store, and then he has to go and search for a regular parking spot. It's pretty difficult for me. I'm tired and sick of all this. I wish someone would help me make the stupid doctors hire interpreters for me and see me and give me what I need (wheelchair, surgeries, etc). I'm just pretty frustrated right now.

Do anyone have any suggestions, ideas, whatever? Moving out of Texas is OUT OF THE QUESTION. I just want to get the damn doctors to hire interpreters and to be willing to see me. They don't want to see me at all because I'm deaf and they can't be bothered to hire interpreters or even to use paper and pen (I'm more than willing to write back and forth if necessary, it's not too much of a problem for me cause I have good English skills, but I really prefer to have an interpreter because that way I can tell the doctor EVERYTHING and it would save a lot of time, writing back and forth takes up a lot of time and I can't do it for hours. the doctors have limited times with each patient. Having an interpreter would be so much quicker and easier. It would ease a lot of communication issues for both me and for the doctors.)

Thank you in advance. Sorry if this post sounds whiny, but I am just really frustrated at this point and would really like some good advice and suggestions.

The Highlander · 04-09-2009, 02:19 AM

Sorry to heard about that.

You can talk to ADA Q&A - National Association of the Deaf and they will help you for solve the problem.

Jiro · 04-09-2009, 02:19 AM

did you try contacting Texas ADA? or ADA hotline?

diehardbiker · 04-09-2009, 02:29 AM

If you have them saying they dont care in writing?, then you are building strong case against them.

Try ACULA Im not sure the spelling but yes there is free attorney and it won't hurt to ask.

You STILL can get HC parking permit EVEN if you don't have car. If you have physical issues then go for it.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-09-2009, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

If you have them saying they dont care in writing?, then you are building strong case against them.

Try ACULA Im not sure the spelling but yes there is free attorney and it won't hurt to ask.

You STILL can get HC parking permit EVEN if you don't have car. If you have physical issues then go for it.

I don't have it in writing because they said it on the phone when I used VRS on VP. So I have no proof.

No. I can't get HC parking placard if I do not have my own car - it's the law here in Texas...my fiance told me this. He knows because his grandfather has a placard, and he was required to have his own vehicle in order to have the placard. The placard cannot be used on any other vehicle, only his own. So if I got my own placard, I cannot use it on my fiance's truck, it has to be my own vehicle.

I never heard of the ACULA.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-09-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

did you try contacting Texas ADA? or ADA hotline?

I don't even know where.

I have had my fiance's boss, who does ADA consulting, call my doctors and tell them that their refusal to hire an ASL interpreter is against the ADA law and a violation as well, and they still don't care. Why bother? I've been putting so much energy into trying to get the damn doctors to comply with the ADA laws that I'm so tired a lot of the time. And I fail. Every time I try to get a doctor to comply with the ADA laws, it always results in an EPIC FAIL. I feel like an EPIC FAIL every time I am denied interpreting services. I try to fight for my rights, and I lose every time. This is too much bullshit for me to handle, and I just want them to just fucking comply and see me and do what they need to do to fix what the fuck is wrong with me, so that I can have a better quality of life. I feel like I am being neglected every time the doctors refuse to hire interpreters and refuse to see me just because I am deaf, even if I try to meet them halfway, offering to write on paper, giving them numbers to all 3 major interpreting agencies here in San Antonio, I give them the business cards with all the phone numbers and email address and other important information, and they still don't care. They probably toss the business cards into the trash as soon as I walk out of the clinic. I even call far in advance before my appointments to tell them I need an ASL interpreter, like more than two weeks in advance, and they still won't hire one. I am not like one of those deaf people who say nothing and then show up on the day of the appointment and demand that they get an interpreter OMGZ RIGHT NOW THIS SECOND! because I understand that there is an interpreter shortage and that you can't just get an interpreter to come on the day of the appointment, that you can't just conjure an interpreter out of thin air (some deaf people actually expect them to conjure an interpreter out of thin air as if it's magic) and scream and say "you are violating the ADA laws", I always call far in advance, give them ALL the info they need in order to contact the agencies, explain how to get one, etc. I don't make them search for an interpreter because they don't know where to get one...I try to make it easy for them to find an interpreter by giving them the business cards of all 3 major interpreting agencies here in San Antonio, and let them pick which agency they want to use. And still, they refuse. I just don't get it. Why are the doctors here in Texas such assholes? I only have ONE doctor that is not an asshole, all the rest are assholes who think that it is their right to refuse to provide an ASL interpreter to any deaf patient and even refuse to allow me to use paper and pen to communicate. It seems like they just don't want to have anything to do with the deaf people. It's really frustrating. I feel like an epic fail right now because I can't get specialists to see me just because I'm deaf. Some times I even wish I was hearing so I wouldn't have to deal with this bullshit, it's so exhausting. (no, I do not mind being deaf, it's just that sometimes it makes some things difficult).

LuciaDisturbed · 04-09-2009, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Highlander

Sorry to heard about that.

You can talk to ADA Q&A - National Association of the Deaf and they will help you for solve the problem.

I'll see if that will help, but I'm not so sure if that will succeed in getting doctors to see me and to hire interpreters for me. I just don't have much faith in the doctors at all right now.

Hear Again · 04-09-2009, 06:55 AM

Lucia,

Have you tried contacting the Lions Club in San Antonio to find out if they could donate a wheelchair or scooter to you?

Do you have Medicaid and/or Medicare? If so, they may be able to pay for a wheelchair or scooter as well.

Cheri · 04-09-2009, 07:42 AM

Have you contract Civil Rights Division in your area and see what they can do to help you? or contract Texas Civil Rights lawyer to get a free consultation.

Jiro · 04-09-2009, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diehardbiker

If you have them saying they dont care in writing?, then you are building strong case against them.

Try ACULA Im not sure the spelling but yes there is free attorney and it won't hurt to ask.

You STILL can get HC parking permit EVEN if you don't have car. If you have physical issues then go for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuciaDisturbed

I don't have it in writing because they said it on the phone when I used VRS on VP. So I have no proof.

No. I can't get HC parking placard if I do not have my own car - it's the law here in Texas...my fiance told me this. He knows because his grandfather has a placard, and he was required to have his own vehicle in order to have the placard. The placard cannot be used on any other vehicle, only his own. So if I got my own placard, I cannot use it on my fiance's truck, it has to be my own vehicle.

I never heard of the ACULA.

ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union

Jiro · 04-09-2009, 09:27 AM

why not pick different doctors?

shel90 · 04-09-2009, 09:33 AM

Lucia, it is obvious these doctors arent doctors because they care about their patients ...that means they shouldnt be doctors in the first place. What about contacting the medical license board and complain to them about those doctors along with taking everyone else's advice? I know you said you are tired...

Maybe if u contact your local news station and share your story with them and see if u can get it out in public about those doctors? The media loves to destroy the bad apples in all professions.

PowerON · 04-09-2009, 09:49 AM

Before you judge on Texas. I do not have problem with interpreter when I went to get my eyes exam and in hospital.

You need to know which interpreter service's telephone number that you're able to hand to them where they will reach it for you.

jillio · 04-09-2009, 10:34 AM

Try this one Lucia:

Tell them that in order for them to treat you, you have to be able to give fully informed consent for treatment. Unless communication is interpreted, or put in writing, there is no way that you can understand everything that is being said, and therefore, it is impossible for you to give fully informed consent. Therefore, either they hire an intepreter for your visits, or you file a complaint with the ethics board for failure to get fully informed consent, and for discrimination against a person with a disability.

Texan Guy · 04-09-2009, 04:03 PM

Have you try one in Austin? Austin has the excellent interpreter services as well as the hospitals around TSD.

November Gypsy · 04-09-2009, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jillio

Try this one Lucia:

Tell them that in order for them to treat you, you have to be able to give fully informed consent for treatment. Unless communication is interpreted, or put in writing, there is no way that you can understand everything that is being said, and therefore, it is impossible for you to give fully informed consent. Therefore, either they hire an intepreter for your visits, or you file a complaint with the ethics board for failure to get fully informed consent, and for discrimination against a person with a disability.

Three cheers for Jillio!

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

ACLU - American Civil Liberties Union

Jiro, thanks...I know what ACLU is...I really thought diehardbiker meant something else cause of the misspelling.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

why not pick different doctors?

It's not that simple. I've tried many different doctors, and NO ONE wants to hire an interpreter because it costs MONEY, and also because they can't be bothered to hire one. I'm frustrated because of that. Also, since I am on medicaid and medicare, I am limited as in to what doctors I can see.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hear Again

Lucia,

Have you tried contacting the Lions Club in San Antonio to find out if they could donate a wheelchair or scooter to you?

If I get one from Lions Club I will end up with a hospital type chair that I can't even get around in. Those are the worst kind. I've had those before.

Quote:

Do you have Medicaid and/or Medicare? If so, they may be able to pay for a wheelchair or scooter as well.

Not that simple. In order to get Medicaid and/or Medicare pay for a wheelchair/scooter I have to get a RX from a doctor. I can't find a doctor who is willing to see me and willing to hire an interpreter hence I am stuck and cannot get a stupid simple RX to get a wheelchair.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shel90

Maybe if u contact your local news station and share your story with them and see if u can get it out in public about those doctors? The media loves to destroy the bad apples in all professions.

No...I don't want that kind of attention. I really do not want my face on TV...so, no.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PowerON

Before you judge on Texas. I do not have problem with interpreter when I went to get my eyes exam and in hospital.

You need to know which interpreter service's telephone number that you're able to hand to them where they will reach it for you.

I have given them the business cards with the phone numbers of ALL THREE MAJOR INTERPRETING AGENCIES and even the one minor interpreting agency here in SAN ANTONIO. They still refuse to pick up the phone, call them, and hire an interpreter for me, or they will initially get an interpreter, and then when it gets closer to the date of my appointment, they change their mind, call and cancel the interpreter services, and then call me and tell me that they have cancelled my appointment because they don't want to pay for or get an interpreter for me...both scenerios have happened to me! I even give them the email addresses, I give them all the damn information that they need to get an interpreter, I even make it so easy for them, and they still refuse. Hence, it is not my fault on my end. The problem is on THEIR END. I HAVE GIVEN THEM THE DAMN NUMBERS ALREADY OVER AND OVER AGAIN! I KNOW ALL THE NUMBERS AND I GIVE THEM ALL THE NUMBERS! I MAKE IT SO EASY FOR THEM TO REACH THE INTERPRETING AGENCIES! So, whose fault is it? THEIRS! Not mine! I'm not as dumb as you think I am. The doctors are the ones who are dumb, not me. They also just don't care. Plus, you live in an entirely different part of the state far away from where I am, if I remember correctly...you live near or in Dallas or Fort Worth, right? I am WAY DOWN SOUTH, in San Antonio, about only two fucking hours from the coast and only three fucking hours from Mexico! So, you probably have better services in Dallas/Fort Worth. I live in San Antonio. Maybe you should start paying a little more careful attention to the area under people's avatars where it says what location people are from...my location says San Antonio.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texan Guy

Have you try one in Austin? Austin has the excellent interpreter services as well as the hospitals around TSD.

I do not live in Austin. I live in San Antonio. Go look on the map. I am an hour south of Austin, and I have no plans of moving to Austin.

Jiro · 04-10-2009, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuciaDisturbed

I don't even know where.

I have had my fiance's boss, who does ADA consulting, call my doctors and tell them that their refusal to hire an ASL interpreter is against the ADA law and a violation as well, and they still don't care. Why bother? I've been putting so much energy into trying to get the damn doctors to comply with the ADA laws that I'm so tired a lot of the time. And I fail. Every time I try to get a doctor to comply with the ADA laws, it always results in an EPIC FAIL. I feel like an EPIC FAIL every time I am denied interpreting services. I try to fight for my rights, and I lose every time. This is too much bullshit for me to handle, and I just want them to just fucking comply and see me and do what they need to do to fix what the fuck is wrong with me, so that I can have a better quality of life. I feel like I am being neglected every time the doctors refuse to hire interpreters and refuse to see me just because I am deaf, even if I try to meet them halfway, offering to write on paper, giving them numbers to all 3 major interpreting agencies here in San Antonio, I give them the business cards with all the phone numbers and email address and other important information, and they still don't care. They probably toss the business cards into the trash as soon as I walk out of the clinic. I even call far in advance before my appointments to tell them I need an ASL interpreter, like more than two weeks in advance, and they still won't hire one. I am not like one of those deaf people who say nothing and then show up on the day of the appointment and demand that they get an interpreter OMGZ RIGHT NOW THIS SECOND! because I understand that there is an interpreter shortage and that you can't just get an interpreter to come on the day of the appointment, that you can't just conjure an interpreter out of thin air (some deaf people actually expect them to conjure an interpreter out of thin air as if it's magic) and scream and say "you are violating the ADA laws", I always call far in advance, give them ALL the info they need in order to contact the agencies, explain how to get one, etc. I don't make them search for an interpreter because they don't know where to get one...I try to make it easy for them to find an interpreter by giving them the business cards of all 3 major interpreting agencies here in San Antonio, and let them pick which agency they want to use. And still, they refuse. I just don't get it. Why are the doctors here in Texas such assholes? I only have ONE doctor that is not an asshole, all the rest are assholes who think that it is their right to refuse to provide an ASL interpreter to any deaf patient and even refuse to allow me to use paper and pen to communicate. It seems like they just don't want to have anything to do with the deaf people. It's really frustrating. I feel like an epic fail right now because I can't get specialists to see me just because I'm deaf. Some times I even wish I was hearing so I wouldn't have to deal with this bullshit, it's so exhausting. (no, I do not mind being deaf, it's just that sometimes it makes some things difficult).

so your fiance's boss does ADA consulting... and he gets ignored by doctors? Is he doing anything else more for you?

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

so your fiance's boss does ADA consulting... and he gets ignored by doctors? Is he doing anything else more for you?

His boss is a she. She would call my doctors, explain the ADA laws to them, tell them that they are required by ADA laws to hire interpreters for the deaf, get them to comply with the ADA laws, and then two days the stupid doctors would change their minds again and have their receptionists call me and tell me that they have cancelled my appointment AGAIN (which I have made two weeks in advance and sometimes even up to two to three MONTHS in ADVANCE due to some doctors' schedules being so booked full) because they decided that they do not want to hire/pay for an interpreter after all. It's just a big fat shitload of bullshit. It's not my fiance's boss's fault at all. It's the doctors. They either don't want to pay for an interpreter or they just can't be bothered to hire one, they just don't care what the ADA laws say and they don't care what she says, either. They do not seem to care about liability.

Jiro · 04-10-2009, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuciaDisturbed

His boss is a she. She would call my doctors, explain the ADA laws to them, tell them that they are required by ADA laws to hire interpreters for the deaf, get them to comply with the ADA laws, and then two days the stupid doctors would change their minds again and have their receptionists call me and tell me that they have cancelled my appointment AGAIN (which I have made two weeks in advance and sometimes even up to two to three MONTHS in ADVANCE due to some doctors' schedules being so booked full) because they decided that they do not want to hire/pay for an interpreter after all. It's just a big fat shitload of bullshit. It's not my fiance's boss's fault at all. It's the doctors. They either don't want to pay for an interpreter or they just can't be bothered to hire one, they just don't care what the ADA laws say. They do not seem to care about liability.

is she a lawyer? she can simply write a letter of warning.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

is she a lawyer? she can simply write a letter of warning.

No, she is not a lawyer. She owns her own interpreting agency, and is a Certified ASL interpreter.

Babyblue · 04-10-2009, 02:41 AM

Lucia... I would have quoted your OP... But as you know you are famous for making Loooong post!

Anyways...

Next time you make an appointment. Empathized the fact that you need an interpreter. (again)

The only reason why the doctor is allowing this to happen. Is because he "knows" You will not make waves! Or report him!!

Be strong and give that ass a shock!! Call and report him. Being shy in public is much better than, being humiliated and turned down, by a physician that refuses your rights.

Jiro · 04-10-2009, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuciaDisturbed

No, she is not a lawyer. She owns her own interpreting agency, and is a Certified ASL interpreter.

lol... why not ask her for service? pro bono stuff, you know.

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babyblue

Lucia... I would have quoted your OP... But as you know you are famous for making Loooong post!

Anyways...

Next time you make an appointment. Empathized the fact that you need an interpreter. (again)

The only reason why the doctor is allowing this to happen. Is because he "knows" You will not make waves! Or report him!!

Be strong and give that ass a shock!! Call and report him. Being shy in public is much better than, being humiliated and turned down, by a physician that refuses your rights.

I always tell the receptionist or the person at the doctor's office who answers the phone, when I call to make an appointment, that I need an ASL interpreter, that I am deaf and cannot read lips nor understand speech (and I do not even mention my CI) and that the only way to communicate with me effectively is to get an ASL interpreter, and I am always VERY helpful and I always meet them halfway by providing the phone numbers to all the interpreting agencies here in San Antonio (we have 3 major and 1 minor agencies) and I let them choose what agency they want to use.

Even if I report the doctor, I still won't get to see the doctor. I don't want to go to the NEWS station and have my face on TV. Despite the fact that I am quite outspoken here on AllDeaf, I have stage fright, literally, and will NOT speak in front of many people, I would rather run and hide. It's easy to be outspoken on the internet, but TV and public speaking? HELL NO. Being on TV and public speaking would give me a heart attack. Writing is less scary than being in front of a camera.

I've reported the doctors to my fiance's boss who does ADA consulting, and, as you can see by my earlier posts, that was quite useless...not her fault, but rather the doctors' fault, the doctors always either stand their ground, refuse, or they will agree to hire an interpreter, then two days later turn around and change their minds and cancel the interpreting service and cancel my appointment. It's gotten to the point where doing anything is just useless. It seems like the ADA laws has no ground here in Texas or something like that. I don't know. Maybe Texas is exempt from the ADA laws. I don't know. I've lived here only three years, but have no intentions of leaving Texas as I am not going back to the frigid climate ever again no matter what. If it weren't for the warm climate here in Texas, I would never leave the house ever, just because I really hate being cold. The cold hurt my bones. If I was still in Wisconsin or Minnesota I would NEVER leave the house EVER from the months of October until late May, and I'm not kidding. I'm not agoraphobic, I just can't tolerate the cold at all. When they change their mind and cancel appointments they waste a lot of time...most of the appointments to see a neurologist or a rheumologist are often booked up to two or three months in advance. I call, make an appointment, request that they hire an ASL interpreter for me, they don't object and they say "sure" and then two to almost three months later (a few days before I am to see the doctor) they call me and tell me they have cancelled my appointment because they do not want to hire an interpreter...I then call my fiance's boss to get them to comply...she gets them to comply, we set up a NEW appointment where I again have to wait ANOTHER two to three months later to see the same doctor...then two days later they change their minds and call me and tell me they don't want to hire an interpreter after all even if it's against the ADA laws and therefore have cancelled my appointment ALREADY (without even asking me if I would instead bring a paper and pen?! I have even offered to do this and they still refuse) and that is a lot of time LOST from their bullshit. Getting in to see a specialist is not easy, and it gets complicated when I ask for interpreter services, and you factor in the fact that specialists are often booked 2-3 months in advance. I can't just turn around and make a new appointment and expect to see them in a week or two. It's not that simple. I suspect that they can afford the liability and therefore just would rather spend the money on a lawyer to win the case in court which would be more expensive than it would be to just hire an interpreter for ONE FUCKING HOUR - because they do not want to deal with a deaf patient. All I fucking ask is for one fucking hour, and they would rather spend days in court fighting to deny my rights to an ASL interpreter. This is just really stupid. I have even THREATENED to go to court over this, and they just don't care. They go, "well, I'm sorry for the inconvenience but the doctor does not want to get an interpreter so your appointment has been cancelled" and I tell them that "IT IS AGAINST THE ADA LAWS" and that deaf people can sue the doctor for that and make them lose their jobs and that I can report them and they are still like "I'm sorry but your appointment has been cancelled" and they just don't care. They're apathetic. When they call me either on VP or via Relay to tell me my appointment has been cancelled, the VRS interpreter's body language indicates to me that the person on the other end just does not care - the interpreter's face has a flat "I do not care" tone to it indicating apathy, and via relay either a flat tone or an irritated tone or loud sighs are indicated. I get mad and tell them that what they doing is illegal, and I still get apathetic responses. I even go as far as to tell them to please allow me to see the doctor as previously scheduled and that I can bring paper and pen (I can write quite well) and they still tell me "no, your appointment has already been cancelled and the doctor will not see you at all". What am I supposed to say now? I have said every kind of legal/ADA/legal action-related threat that I can think of that has to do with ADA laws, and it still does not scare them into getting an interpreter.

What I don't get is that I live in a largely Spanish-speaking city where Spanish interpreters are often needed and often provided whenever a Spanish-speaking patient needs one, but when a Deaf patient that uses ASL needs an ASL interpreter, they just flat out refuse to provide the Deaf patient with an ASL interpreter. What's up with that?

LuciaDisturbed · 04-10-2009, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jiro

lol... why not ask her for service? pro bono stuff, you know.

As I have already said, she's not a lawyer.

Unless you mean free interpreting services? I really don't think she would go for that. I think it would be considered unethical to do that, I am pretty sure, to provide interpreting services to doctors for ONE deaf person while charging doctors for interpreting services for OTHER deaf persons. She is VERY VERY VERY strict about ethics in interpreting and in business. Reba, care to chime in on this?

04-09-2009, 02:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
LuciaDisturbed Amateur Psychiatrist Join Date: May 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 6,659	No one in Texas wants to hire an interpreter! I've been trying for the past few months to see a neurologist and a rheumologist, but NO ONE will shell out the cash for an interpreter, even though they are aware of the liability if they don't hire one. I warned them that it is a violation of the ADA laws, they tell me they don't give a flying fuck about that and that they don't want to hire an interpreter, and they won't even see me and let me write back and forth...they just can't be bothered to deal with deaf patients! I am so frustrated and I do not know what to do anymore. I seriously need a wheelchair, and I seriously need to find out what the hell is wrong with me, but no one wants to do tests and treat me. I have a harder time getting around some days, and other days I am ok. I have good days and bad days, but on the bad days and on days where there is a lot of walking involved (such as Six Flags and Sea World and Schlitterbahn Park) I seriously need a wheelchair. I can barely walk more than a block now. It hurts to walk a lot of the time, and sometimes my legs below my knees goes numb completely. My issues are really getting in the way of my quality of life and only if I had a wheelchair it wouldn't be such an issue. I never had this refusal to hire interpreters issue in Minnesota, in fact ALL the doctors and ALL the clinics in Minnesota are so scared of the liability issue that they totally insist on hiring an interpreter no matter what. But down here in Texas they don't care about liability. They just can't be bothered. They don't care. I feel like no one cares. I seriously need to know what is happening to me and why and they won't do anything. I can't get a lawyer cause I don't have the money, I am on a fixed income, so I am stuck. I can't do anything about it anymore. Because of this, I am at home most of the time stuck at the computer or watching movies all day long because I can't really do anything else outside of the home, I can't go out and have fun most of the time, the only times I ever leave my apartment is to go to the doctors or to go to deaf bowling with my fiance where all I do is sit and chat with the other deafies who do not bowl but come just to socialize. I can't even bowl more than one game, if I do bowl more than one game my hips get really pissy with me, and so does my back. I have 2 injured discs in my lower back as well as peripheral neuropathy and fibromyalgia, but I think there is something worse going on with me given the symptoms I am having right now. I don't know what to do anymore and I am so frustrated and tired and pissed and sad. My fiance is worried about me. I don't know what to do. My body is waging a war on itself, and I will lose the war if no one will help me. I try to fight, but no one will help. I can't win if no one will help me. Do any one know what to do? I need some some advice and some suggestions. And no, I'm not moving out of Texas, that is completely out of the question. I can't threaten legal action because NO ONE cares about liability, they don't even care if I try to sue. They just don't give a flying fuck. I really, really, really want my hip and my back fixed so I can have a normal life again. I can't even work. I'm on SSI/SS for a really long time. I can't depend on SSI/SS forever, I don't think it will last long, given the terrible economy nowadays. If I at least had a wheelchair, my quality of life might be better. Right now I kind of feel like an invalid, and I don't like that. I would like to go out and do fun stuff all the time, go downtown on the bus, visit the riverwalk and go to the mall and go to the art museum across town. A wheelchair would allow me to do all those things (all the buses here are accessible and have ramps and spaces for wheelchair users. I would like to go to Walmart and not have to use their awful motor carts. They suck, they are VERY SLOW (slower than a person walking!), and sometimes they make a clunk clunk clunk noise all the time that is EXTREMELY ANNOYING. My fiance even says the motor cart is VERY LOUD when it runs. I don't have a disabled parking placard because I don't have a car of my own, so my fiance has to drop me off at the front doors of Walmart or any other store, and then he has to go and search for a regular parking spot. It's pretty difficult for me. I'm tired and sick of all this. I wish someone would help me make the stupid doctors hire interpreters for me and see me and give me what I need (wheelchair, surgeries, etc). I'm just pretty frustrated right now. Do anyone have any suggestions, ideas, whatever? Moving out of Texas is OUT OF THE QUESTION. I just want to get the damn doctors to hire interpreters and to be willing to see me. They don't want to see me at all because I'm deaf and they can't be bothered to hire interpreters or even to use paper and pen (I'm more than willing to write back and forth if necessary, it's not too much of a problem for me cause I have good English skills, but I really prefer to have an interpreter because that way I can tell the doctor EVERYTHING and it would save a lot of time, writing back and forth takes up a lot of time and I can't do it for hours. the doctors have limited times with each patient. Having an interpreter would be so much quicker and easier. It would ease a lot of communication issues for both me and for the doctors.) Thank you in advance. Sorry if this post sounds whiny, but I am just really frustrated at this point and would really like some good advice and suggestions. __________________ "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." - Philosopher George Santayana. Implanted left ear 10/11/06, activated 10/16/06 - Nucleus Freedom My own CI experience, my views on CI and ASL and Deaf Culture and Society DeviantArt

04-09-2009, 02:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
The Highlander Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,705	Sorry to heard about that. You can talk to ADA Q&A - National Association of the Deaf and they will help you for solve the problem. __________________

04-09-2009, 02:19 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 22,973	did you try contacting Texas ADA? or ADA hotline? __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-09-2009, 02:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
diehardbiker Stuck in New York! Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 7,169	If you have them saying they dont care in writing?, then you are building strong case against them. Try ACULA Im not sure the spelling but yes there is free attorney and it won't hurt to ask. You STILL can get HC parking permit EVEN if you don't have car. If you have physical issues then go for it. __________________ Please do not follow unless your driving REAL 4x4 with LOW! FUN is standard...PAVEMENT is optional.... Plus Jeep Wrangler owner too.

04-09-2009, 06:55 AM	#8 (permalink)
Hear Again Each day is a gift. Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 20,073 Blog Entries: 6	Lucia, Have you tried contacting the Lions Club in San Antonio to find out if they could donate a wheelchair or scooter to you? Do you have Medicaid and/or Medicare? If so, they may be able to pay for a wheelchair or scooter as well. __________________ Left ear - Nucleus 24 Contour Advance with Freedom BTE (Implanted: 12/22/04 \| Activated: 1/18/05) Right ear - Nucleus Freedom (Implanted: 2/1/06 \| Activated: 3/1/06) Deafblind/Postlingual

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04-09-2009, 07:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Cheri Prayers for my dad. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Ohio Posts: 22,616	Have you contract Civil Rights Division in your area and see what they can do to help you? or contract Texas Civil Rights lawyer to get a free consultation. __________________ God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow and sun without rain, But God did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears and light for the way.

04-09-2009, 09:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
Jiro YOU DOMESTIC DISSENT! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: The Sopranos State Posts: 22,973	why not pick different doctors? __________________ - Don't forget to buy Jiro's Special Edition Sunglasses for $19.95

04-09-2009, 09:33 AM	#12 (permalink)
shel90 In a pink and black world Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: In the land of the free Posts: 24,059 Blog Entries: 3	Lucia, it is obvious these doctors arent doctors because they care about their patients ...that means they shouldnt be doctors in the first place. What about contacting the medical license board and complain to them about those doctors along with taking everyone else's advice? I know you said you are tired... Maybe if u contact your local news station and share your story with them and see if u can get it out in public about those doctors? The media loves to destroy the bad apples in all professions. __________________ Shel~ "A child educated only at school is an uneducated child." -George Santayana

04-09-2009, 09:49 AM	#13 (permalink)
PowerON Click me 12 time Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Suddenly, I'm cowboy. Posts: 6,863 Blog Entries: 4	Before you judge on Texas. I do not have problem with interpreter when I went to get my eyes exam and in hospital. You need to know which interpreter service's telephone number that you're able to hand to them where they will reach it for you. __________________ • [Illustrator.Blog-alloon.com] • Don't shoot me! I'm only blogger!

04-09-2009, 10:34 AM	#14 (permalink)
jillio Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 32,396	Try this one Lucia: Tell them that in order for them to treat you, you have to be able to give fully informed consent for treatment. Unless communication is interpreted, or put in writing, there is no way that you can understand everything that is being said, and therefore, it is impossible for you to give fully informed consent. Therefore, either they hire an intepreter for your visits, or you file a complaint with the ethics board for failure to get fully informed consent, and for discrimination against a person with a disability.

04-09-2009, 04:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
Texan Guy Chief of Secret Police Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Lone Star State Posts: 2,203	Have you try one in Austin? Austin has the excellent interpreter services as well as the hospitals around TSD. __________________

04-10-2009, 02:41 AM	#27 (permalink)
Babyblue Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 7,539	Lucia... I would have quoted your OP... But as you know you are famous for making Loooong post! Anyways... Next time you make an appointment. Empathized the fact that you need an interpreter. (again) The only reason why the doctor is allowing this to happen. Is because he "knows" You will not make waves! Or report him!! Be strong and give that ass a shock!! Call and report him. Being shy in public is much better than, being humiliated and turned down, by a physician that refuses your rights.

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