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Council for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Holds First Town Hall in Gooding - Business - redOrbit
The Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing held its first town hall meeting Wednesday night at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind to solicit ideas about how to improve quality of life for hearing impaired people.
And that input came from individuals who have the most to say.
The public meeting, which drew about 30 adult community members, many who hand-signed their comments, was facilitated by the first deaf executive director of a state agency in Idaho, Steven Snow.
Snow, executive director of the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, is also a graduate of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind. "We're all citizens of Idaho," he said through an interpreter. "We as taxpayers must realize we have a right to be heard."
He said some people in state government don't understand there are shortcomings in Idaho that affect deaf and hard of hearing people. "In their eyes they think this is a non-issue," he said.
Snow invited the public to discuss any issues they have regarding how well adapted the state is to handle the needs of people who cannot hear.
Many expressed concerns about the need for more experienced and fluent interpreters in jail, court and hospital settings. Frustrations were also expressed about federal and state rules and insurance setbacks that prevent deaf people from obtaining licenses to drive certain vehicles such as big rigs.
Bill Andrew spoke through an interpreter and said he's a certified driver's education teacher. "I almost was not able to teach driver's ed two years ago," he said, citing stringent hearing requirements.
"I know of some deaf people that want to drive big rigs," Andrew said. "They're not allowed to."
Andrew shared a story about a student who attempted to order food from a fast food restaurant but was denied access from a pull-up window after being unable to order from the microphone menu.
"How many of you while out shopping get hungry and stop to get something to eat? ... The manager refused to take the order," said Andrew, adding the student was told to park and order on-site.
Another deaf community member told the gathering that he quit his job, because his employer wouldn't provide him with an interpreter.
Also speaking through an interpreter, area resident Cliff Hanks said doctors and hospitals lose money when they see deaf patients by providing interpreters. He said those interpreters are often ill-equipped to explain medical terminology and health conditions, and he provided an idea that might solve the problem: lodge a complaint or start more discussion on the issue with the American Medical Association.
Andrew's daughter LaVona Andrew, president of the Idaho Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, also had an idea: create more workshops to better train interpreters "to impress on them what skills are required to work in that environment."
LaVona Andrew said state agencies that could use some of the most help with that include the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Department of Corrections.
Snow said the next of two more town hall meetings this year sponsored by the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be held in Coeur d'Alene. The organization, which began in 1991, is tasked with making reports to the governor, Legislature, and state departments about how government rules, regulations and programs affect hearing-impaired people.
The Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing held its first town hall meeting Wednesday night at the Idaho School for the Deaf and the Blind to solicit ideas about how to improve quality of life for hearing impaired people.
And that input came from individuals who have the most to say.
The public meeting, which drew about 30 adult community members, many who hand-signed their comments, was facilitated by the first deaf executive director of a state agency in Idaho, Steven Snow.
Snow, executive director of the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, is also a graduate of the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind. "We're all citizens of Idaho," he said through an interpreter. "We as taxpayers must realize we have a right to be heard."
He said some people in state government don't understand there are shortcomings in Idaho that affect deaf and hard of hearing people. "In their eyes they think this is a non-issue," he said.
Snow invited the public to discuss any issues they have regarding how well adapted the state is to handle the needs of people who cannot hear.
Many expressed concerns about the need for more experienced and fluent interpreters in jail, court and hospital settings. Frustrations were also expressed about federal and state rules and insurance setbacks that prevent deaf people from obtaining licenses to drive certain vehicles such as big rigs.
Bill Andrew spoke through an interpreter and said he's a certified driver's education teacher. "I almost was not able to teach driver's ed two years ago," he said, citing stringent hearing requirements.
"I know of some deaf people that want to drive big rigs," Andrew said. "They're not allowed to."
Andrew shared a story about a student who attempted to order food from a fast food restaurant but was denied access from a pull-up window after being unable to order from the microphone menu.
"How many of you while out shopping get hungry and stop to get something to eat? ... The manager refused to take the order," said Andrew, adding the student was told to park and order on-site.
Another deaf community member told the gathering that he quit his job, because his employer wouldn't provide him with an interpreter.
Also speaking through an interpreter, area resident Cliff Hanks said doctors and hospitals lose money when they see deaf patients by providing interpreters. He said those interpreters are often ill-equipped to explain medical terminology and health conditions, and he provided an idea that might solve the problem: lodge a complaint or start more discussion on the issue with the American Medical Association.
Andrew's daughter LaVona Andrew, president of the Idaho Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, also had an idea: create more workshops to better train interpreters "to impress on them what skills are required to work in that environment."
LaVona Andrew said state agencies that could use some of the most help with that include the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the Idaho Department of Corrections.
Snow said the next of two more town hall meetings this year sponsored by the Idaho Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will be held in Coeur d'Alene. The organization, which began in 1991, is tasked with making reports to the governor, Legislature, and state departments about how government rules, regulations and programs affect hearing-impaired people.