Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Opinion/498933.html
LET’S catch up on some odds and ends.
Leanne White, a young deaf woman, organized a March conference to create awareness of problems young deaf people face in the justice system.
"This conference was beneficial for everyone involved," says Leanne, answering questions by e-mail.
Leanne’s goal was for deaf youth to learn their legal rights and responsibilities. Among 30 attendees, three lawyers served as guest speakers, two police officers were facilitators, and nine other presenters brought vast knowledge to the session.
Leanne says presenters noted they better understood the needs and the realities of life for deaf people. Specifically, they acknowledged obstacles that regularly occur in the lives of deaf people that were never considered before.
She continues. "Youth participants said they felt a new sense of confidence in their own understanding of the legal system. One participant told me, ‘I feel safer because I know what my real rights are.’ "
Leanne graduates as a legal administrative assistant in June but is "more motivated than ever to be a professional in the legal system and work with deaf clients. I plan to work for a year at a law firm while studying for my LSATs to apply to law school.
"Everyone has a right to understand the system and their legal rights and responsibilities," she says. "Unfortunately, due to inadequate education, some members of the deaf community have missed out on this important information. I know I can play a significant part in helping youth from my community learn more about their rights."
LET’S catch up on some odds and ends.
Leanne White, a young deaf woman, organized a March conference to create awareness of problems young deaf people face in the justice system.
"This conference was beneficial for everyone involved," says Leanne, answering questions by e-mail.
Leanne’s goal was for deaf youth to learn their legal rights and responsibilities. Among 30 attendees, three lawyers served as guest speakers, two police officers were facilitators, and nine other presenters brought vast knowledge to the session.
Leanne says presenters noted they better understood the needs and the realities of life for deaf people. Specifically, they acknowledged obstacles that regularly occur in the lives of deaf people that were never considered before.
She continues. "Youth participants said they felt a new sense of confidence in their own understanding of the legal system. One participant told me, ‘I feel safer because I know what my real rights are.’ "
Leanne graduates as a legal administrative assistant in June but is "more motivated than ever to be a professional in the legal system and work with deaf clients. I plan to work for a year at a law firm while studying for my LSATs to apply to law school.
"Everyone has a right to understand the system and their legal rights and responsibilities," she says. "Unfortunately, due to inadequate education, some members of the deaf community have missed out on this important information. I know I can play a significant part in helping youth from my community learn more about their rights."