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West Virginia director of commission for deaf heeding concerns voiced at forum :: The Republic
Complaints by deaf West Virginians about state services are being heeded by the director of the state Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Director Marissa Sanders said she will review the concerns raised a public forum on Thursday. The complaints included access to interpreters and workplace discrimination.
"We will be considering all of the issues that were raised in the meeting," Sanders told The Charleston Gazette. "We will be handling them as best we can."
The board will address the concerns at a meeting in May, the next scheduled session, she said.
Speakers at the forum criticized the way state agencies, such as the Division of Rehabilitation Services, hire interpreters. In response, Sanders said that while some state agencies use interpreters, it is not the commission's role to provide them.
It does, however, maintain a list of interpreters.
The board's chairman, Doug Godfrey, said the board "agrees wholeheartedly that the services in general for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing need to improve."
The commission has three staffers and a $250,000 budget, he said.
"In the May meeting, the Board perhaps may look into ways to maximize the efforts but not overwhelm the staff," he wrote in an email.
Board members also might examine the way state agencies hire interpreters and how the bidding is processed, he said.
Some at the forum complained that agencies are hiring out-of-state interpreters and leaving out local interpreters.
Sanders said the commission strives to improve access to interpreters and advocate for the deaf. Last year, it held 11 public meetings around the state, she said.
Sanders said approximately 100,000 deaf people live in Virginia.
Complaints by deaf West Virginians about state services are being heeded by the director of the state Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Director Marissa Sanders said she will review the concerns raised a public forum on Thursday. The complaints included access to interpreters and workplace discrimination.
"We will be considering all of the issues that were raised in the meeting," Sanders told The Charleston Gazette. "We will be handling them as best we can."
The board will address the concerns at a meeting in May, the next scheduled session, she said.
Speakers at the forum criticized the way state agencies, such as the Division of Rehabilitation Services, hire interpreters. In response, Sanders said that while some state agencies use interpreters, it is not the commission's role to provide them.
It does, however, maintain a list of interpreters.
The board's chairman, Doug Godfrey, said the board "agrees wholeheartedly that the services in general for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing need to improve."
The commission has three staffers and a $250,000 budget, he said.
"In the May meeting, the Board perhaps may look into ways to maximize the efforts but not overwhelm the staff," he wrote in an email.
Board members also might examine the way state agencies hire interpreters and how the bidding is processed, he said.
Some at the forum complained that agencies are hiring out-of-state interpreters and leaving out local interpreters.
Sanders said the commission strives to improve access to interpreters and advocate for the deaf. Last year, it held 11 public meetings around the state, she said.
Sanders said approximately 100,000 deaf people live in Virginia.