Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Las Vegas Now - Breaking News, Local News, Weather, Traffic, Streaming Video, Classifieds, Blogs - County Deaf Caucus First In Nation
Saturday's Clark County Democratic Convention didn't go smoothly, but there was one high point for some of the participants. This group felt disenfranchised during the caucus last month, but have since made sure they won't be left out anymore.
Often we focus on the need for Spanish speaking interpreters, but a much smaller population is just as in need for translators, and they are often overlooked. The Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus is the first of its kind in the country.
About 30 deaf Democrats have joined the group since its inception last December. Organizers say during the Clark County Caucuses they were frustrated because no one was available to translate for them in sign language.
They say, in the future, it would be helpful to have specific precinct sites just for the deaf or to simply have a primary election with everything in writing. But at Saturday's convention, they made sure interpreters were available:
"This time it's very nice to have an interpreter involved. We feel like we're involved. During the opening, we had the Pledge of Allegiance with a sign and the National Anthem with an interpreter signing as well and that was great to feel that we were a part of this party and event," said Bonita Leek, vice chair of the Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus.
Although the group is a part of the larger county Democratic Party, they used their own money to hire interpreters Saturday.
They say they want to make sure their needs aren't left out when decisions are made in the political process.
The Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus' main focus is to enable the deaf to participate in the political process and to make sure local and state leaders address the needs of the deaf community.
For more information, contact the organization's chairman Denny Voreck at dvoreck@aol.com. You don't have to be deaf to join.
Saturday's Clark County Democratic Convention didn't go smoothly, but there was one high point for some of the participants. This group felt disenfranchised during the caucus last month, but have since made sure they won't be left out anymore.
Often we focus on the need for Spanish speaking interpreters, but a much smaller population is just as in need for translators, and they are often overlooked. The Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus is the first of its kind in the country.
About 30 deaf Democrats have joined the group since its inception last December. Organizers say during the Clark County Caucuses they were frustrated because no one was available to translate for them in sign language.
They say, in the future, it would be helpful to have specific precinct sites just for the deaf or to simply have a primary election with everything in writing. But at Saturday's convention, they made sure interpreters were available:
"This time it's very nice to have an interpreter involved. We feel like we're involved. During the opening, we had the Pledge of Allegiance with a sign and the National Anthem with an interpreter signing as well and that was great to feel that we were a part of this party and event," said Bonita Leek, vice chair of the Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus.
Although the group is a part of the larger county Democratic Party, they used their own money to hire interpreters Saturday.
They say they want to make sure their needs aren't left out when decisions are made in the political process.
The Clark County Democratic Deaf Caucus' main focus is to enable the deaf to participate in the political process and to make sure local and state leaders address the needs of the deaf community.
For more information, contact the organization's chairman Denny Voreck at dvoreck@aol.com. You don't have to be deaf to join.