No one in Texas wants to hire an interpreter!

dreama said:
I was being since. I have NEVER EVER had a terp for a doctors apointment. Their was a recent meeting about me that had me in attendance and I didn't have a terp for that either. Dad was expected to do it but he never interprets word for word so I missed a lot of it. Very disapointing but I hope I get a terp eventually.

The reason I mention doing without a terp is not because I don't think Lucia needs one. It's because It sounds like she really needs to see a doctor more.

Yes, ideally terps are great but we don't live in an ideal world. It seems to me a bit silly not to see the doctor until the ideal terp is found. She should go as soon as possible with or without one.

It has NOTHING to do with a CI. I would give her exactly the same advice if she didn't have one.
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I have offered to see the doctors w/o an interpreter using paper and pen after the 2nd time they cancelled on me but they are still refusing to see me, even refusing to set up a new appointment for me, so it's no use. They just can't be bothered to shell out the money for an interpreter and they also can't even be bothered to even see me at all. It isn't fair. It's like I'm a waste of space and time to them sometimes. They truly don't care.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
I have offered to see the doctors w/o an interpreter using paper and pen after the 2nd time they cancelled on me but they are still refusing to see me, even refusing to set up a new appointment for me, so it's no use. They just can't be bothered to shell out the money for an interpreter and they also can't even be bothered to even see me at all. It isn't fair. It's like I'm a waste of space and time to them sometimes. They truly don't care.
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I'm really sorry to hear about that. This must be very frustrating for you. Have you thought of just turning up and planting yourself in their office until they give you a proper apointment. Because it does sound as if you need one if you are in pain and need a wheelchair.

I'm sorry you are going though all this. It sounds really bad.
 
LuciaDisturbed said:
they also can't even be bothered to even see me at all. It isn't fair. It's like I'm a waste of space and time to them sometimes. They truly don't care.
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They may not care and be bothered at all BUT I care and am very bothered by this all. It is wrong and you are NOT a waste of space or time to anyone.

I truly do care about this whole thing, it is wrong and don't you give up, Lucia.

I'll PM you tonight after my dinner. Hang in there, girl.

:hug:
 
As an advocate, I encourage everyone especially the DB community to rally for their own basic human rights to communication AND accessibility.

When I read your post, dreama, I recoiled in shock when you allowed your own father to interpret for you. No way should you ever allow your own parents to interpret, intervene or tactile for you in any appointment, meetings or anything else.

You are supposed to have a neutral person that has no vested interest in your well-being - mental, physical, emotional and psychological. This neutral person acts as a conduct between you and the hearing world, both sound and visual.

This neutral person is supposed to be giving you all kinds of information and answer your questions, no matter how stupid you think it is. If you ask what colour the sky is, the neutral person {SSPs, intervenor, interpreter} will reply "Blue, sometimes azure and has clouds the shape of ________" The neutral person will not reply "Red" or "Never mind!"

The fact that your father does not give you full information leaves you out of the loop and this bothers me because you are not in full control of yourself. Physically, emotionally, mentally and psychologically.
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Agreed. No one should ever expect a family member to interpret for another family member.

I would never interpret for Randy. I have been to appointments with him and helped clarify(SSP/SODA) but never acted as interpreter.

That is an issue everywhere.
Physicians, Government, and so on.
 
2. ACTION
2.1 Authorities are asked to take the following action:
identify, make contact with and keep a record of deafblind people in their catchment area (including those who have multiple disabilities including dual sensory impairment);
ensure that when an assessment is required or requested, it is carried out by a specifically trained person/team, equipped to assess the needs of a deafblind person - in particular to assess need for one-to-one human contact, assistive technology and rehabilitation;
ensure services provided to deafblind people are appropriate, recognising that they may not necessarily be able to benefit from mainstream services or those services aimed primarily at blind people or deaf people who are able to rely on their other senses;
ensure they are able to access specifically trained one-to-one support workers for those people they assess as requiring one;
provide information about services in formats and methods that are
accessible to deafblind people; and ensure that one member of senior management includes, within his/her responsibilities, overall responsibility for deafblind services.
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Department of Health UK

dreama, you see why I really stress the importance of having a intervenor for your own independence and your own privacy as well.

Your doctor should adhere by the Hippocratic Oath - "Above all, do no harm" when this quote applies to the miscommunication between you and your doctor when your father does not give you all the necessary information you should be getting.

In the link I gave with the quote above, you can find this Act that was passed in 1970.

29(1) of the National Assistance Act 1948 in conjunction with section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970. This provides that local councils may, and in certain circumstances must, make arrangements for promoting the welfare "of persons aged 18 or over who are blind, deaf or dumb or who suffer from mental disorder of any description and other persons aged 18 or over who are substantially and permanently handicapped by illness, injury or congenital deformity or such other disability as may be prescribed by the Minister."
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I honestly do not know why your doctor allows this to continue.

 
Lucia,

I found information about Texas and the TSID.

The primary emphasis of TSID is the development, strengthening, and enhancement of a network of professional interpreters.
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  • August 2007: A Rhode Island hospital settled and agrees to provide interpreters.
  • June 2007: A Virginia hospital settled and agrees to provide interpreters for deaf family members of hearing patients.
  • December 2006: A Louisiana hospital settled and agrees to provide interpreters to deaf patients.
  • October 2006: A Florida hospital settled and agreed to provide interpreters.
  • August 2006: A Maryland hospital that was already using video interpreting, agreed to provide more effective video interpreting services.
  • June 2006: Eight cases:
    • An Indiana dental office agreed to provide interpreters for complex procedures.
    • A Minnesota doctor agreed to provide interpreters.
    • A Georgia doctor agreed to provide interpreters.
    • A doctor in a rural Nevada area agreed to provide interpreters.
    • A Florida doctor agreed to provide interpreters.
    • A Michigan doctor agreed to provide interpreters instead of asking the deaf patient to use a family member.
    • A Nevada dentist agreed to provide effective communication.
    • An Illinois medical specialist agreed to provide interpreters.
  • February 2006: A Delaware hospital agreed to provide interpreters. The patient had no interpreter in either the emergency room or throughout his stay.
  • September 2005: A Washington, DC hospital agreed to provide an interpreter or other effective communication.
  • December 2004: Three cases:
    • A Maryland hospital agreed to provide interpreters.
    • In Tennessee, three doctors agreed to provide interpreters for the same deaf client.
    • An Iowa dentist agreed to provide interpreters.
Disability Rights Online {ADA newsletter online}

Lucia, this is where you need to use a tactful approach with a proper attitude. Gently remind your doctor about the Hippocractic Oath - "Above all, do no harm" and remind him that by ADA law, he has to accommodate his patients.

There is an excellent service Deaf Interpreter Services.

One of the FAQs in the Deaf Interpreting Service website has this ...

[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular]

markerfaq.gif




[/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular][/FONT]WHY CAN'T I JUST WRITE NOTES BACK AND FORTH TO OUR DEAF CONSUMER/PATIENT?

American Sign Language (ASL) is a distinct and unique language with its own grammar and syntax. Unless the deaf person has an extremely good command of the English language, writing notes in English would have little benefit. It could be compared to writing notes in English to a Spanish speaking person.

The deaf individual may understand a few English words, but miss the full meaning or content of the conversation. Structurally and conceptually, ASL is very different from English and is not based upon English. Because of the conceptual differences, many English words and ideas do not transfer well to paper.

Depending on the situation, this could be detrimental. Liability issues should be of great concern. Utilizing the skills of a professional interpreter is the best choice for accurate and effective communication with a deaf individual.
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Be sure to print this out and show this to your doctor because to keep denying you your right to an interpreter is denying you your right to a proper Doctor - patient relationship.

I hope this helps, Lucia. :hug: Hang in there please and keep your chin up.
 
Lucia, you are absolutely entitled to use an ASL interpreter, whether or not you have a CI. I interpret for several clients who have implants.

I don't think location is always the deciding factor in getting interpreter services. I interpret in the Southeast. Some doctors and hospitals have no problem using terps, whereas some need some heavy "educating" and concede to using terps only after a lot of kicking and screaming.

You are correct that the doctor's office, not the deaf patient, has to contact and hire the terp. The deaf patient can provide the doctor's office with terp contact information but only the person paying the terp can do the actual hiring.

I've had some doctors try to bill the deaf patient's insurance, and I have to explain, "no, no, no; my contract is directly with you--I'm a cost-of-doing-business expense for you, just like the electric bill."

I hope you can find a more cooperative doctor, and get a fresh start for all concerned.
 
Lucia, I am one of 3 deaf people in my town. I do understand. I tell doc I am deaf. He keeps talking. Sigh. No doctor, clinic or hospital will get an interpretor. Period. I have not tried all the resources to get one. I just keep asking the doc to repeat until between my residual hearing and lip reading, we come to a conclusion. NOT great. I do take in a "grocery list" of sorts. Doc reads it, and we go from there.

I am sooo sorry that your doc is a mean person. Mean spirited and too cheap to spend.

Dars was good to me. They even got me a new ALD. It was my sincere hope that they would help you, too. When my bosses were too bad, Dars came and hosted a seminar on dealing with deaf/hoh people. I wish they could have helped you, too.

I also have a lupus like disease called MCTD. It causes some pain, and I have been in a WC before. I went thru rehab, etc, and now work.

Since this thread is looong, pardon me for not peeling it, but have you tried the Texas Rehab Commission? They help disabled people get jobs. IF they think you will go back to work, it is supposed to be their job to see that you get exactly what you need to work. (I think I read in another thread that you might have wanted to work)?

Well, that was years ago when I went thru TRC for help. It may be different now. In the past, they would get you college, medical care, counseling, etc. just whatever they could get you. Now, I think the bottom line is dollar sign.

Please feel better soon. Keep us posted. PS, pm me if you want to talk more.
 
Nan_Mathews said:
Lucia, I am one of 3 deaf people in my town. I do understand. I tell doc I am deaf. He keeps talking. Sigh. No doctor, clinic or hospital will get an interpretor. Period. I have not tried all the resources to get one. I just keep asking the doc to repeat until between my residual hearing and lip reading, we come to a conclusion. NOT great. I do take in a "grocery list" of sorts. Doc reads it, and we go from there.

I am sooo sorry that your doc is a mean person. Mean spirited and too cheap to spend.

Dars was good to me. They even got me a new ALD. It was my sincere hope that they would help you, too. When my bosses were too bad, Dars came and hosted a seminar on dealing with deaf/hoh people. I wish they could have helped you, too.

I also have a lupus like disease called MCTD. It causes some pain, and I have been in a WC before. I went thru rehab, etc, and now work.

Since this thread is looong, pardon me for not peeling it, but have you tried the Texas Rehab Commission? They help disabled people get jobs. IF they think you will go back to work, it is supposed to be their job to see that you get exactly what you need to work. (I think I read in another thread that you might have wanted to work)?

Well, that was years ago when I went thru TRC for help. It may be different now. In the past, they would get you college, medical care, counseling, etc. just whatever they could get you. Now, I think the bottom line is dollar sign.

Please feel better soon. Keep us posted. PS, pm me if you want to talk more.
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TRC is now DARS. Same place, different name. They changed names a few years ago.

I can't work right now because of my hip and back, they need to be taken care of first because of the amount of pain they give me and it is making it hard for me to walk a lot of the time. The pain takes away from my energy and it also distracts me from focusing on my job. I would be more productive if my hip and back has been fixed and I am in less or in no pain. So work has been put on the backburner for now until I get my hip and back taken care of.
 
Lucia, this is where you need to use a tactful approach with a proper attitude. Gently remind your doctor about the Hippocractic Oath - "Above all, do no harm" and remind him that by ADA law, he has to accommodate his patients.

There is an excellent service Deaf Interpreter Services.

One of the FAQs in the Deaf Interpreting Service website has this ...



Be sure to print this out and show this to your doctor because to keep denying you your right to an interpreter is denying you your right to a proper Doctor - patient relationship.

I hope this helps, Lucia. :hug: Hang in there please and keep your chin up.
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This is the same stuff I tell the doctors.
 
I've had some doctors try to bill the deaf patient's insurance, and I have to explain, "no, no, no; my contract is directly with you--I'm a cost-of-doing-business expense for you, just like the electric bill."
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I like the way you put that Reba.
Perhaps it needs to be put in the simplest terms possible for the doctor's and their office people to understand
 
Lucia,

I didn't know handicapped placards could only be used in a vehicle that is registered by the person using it in Texas. Here in Wisconsin, anyone who has a placard can use it in any vehicle they drive.
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I was re-reading this whole thread, so as not to duplicate any suggestions again, Wow! I did not know that Texas does that with Placards.
Here in Ohio the placard belongs to and with the person regardless of what vehicle they are driving or riding in.

I do remember the frustration of Insurance and getting necessary eqipment when my 17 yr. old daughter was ran down by a Brinks driver.
The American Legion post provided a hospital bed, and several other pieces of equipment. But I believe someone already mentioned going to local Lions, Legions, and such.
 
ASLGAL said:
I was re-reading this whole thread, so as not to duplicate any suggestions again, Wow! I did not know that Texas does that with Placards.
Here in Ohio the placard belongs to and with the person regardless of what vehicle they are driving or riding in.
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I was unaware of that myself.

In Wisconsin, anyone who is disabled can ride in any vehicle and park in a handicapped space as long as they have a placard.
 
ASLGAL said:
I was re-reading this whole thread, so as not to duplicate any suggestions again, Wow! I did not know that Texas does that with Placards.
Here in Ohio the placard belongs to and with the person regardless of what vehicle they are driving or riding in.
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Hear Again said:
I was unaware of that myself.

In Wisconsin, anyone who is disabled can ride in any vehicle and park in a handicapped space as long as they have a placard.
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It is the same in Texas. If you read later in the thread, that is indeed how it works in Texas. I'm not sure where the misinformation came from, but I did the research myself. Texas definitely allows a disabled person to carry their placard from car to car.
 
It is the same in Texas. If you read later in the thread, that is indeed how it works in Texas. I'm not sure where the misinformation came from, but I did the research myself. Texas definitely allows a disabled person to carry their placard from car to car.
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Thanks for clearing that up Etoile.
I couldn't imagine that big of a difference but then Shel pointed out some things I was not aware of and how they happen on the west coast so I wasn't sure.
Glad that those in Texas can take their placard everywhere with them.
 
Etoile said:
It is the same in Texas. If you read later in the thread, that is indeed how it works in Texas. I'm not sure where the misinformation came from, but I did the research myself. Texas definitely allows a disabled person to carry their placard from car to car.
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:ty: for clarifying Etiole.
 
The same thing here in Ontario, Canada, the DeafBlind is allowed to carry their own placard around.

I chose not to have one because it doesn't make any sense for me to have one. If I have one, park close to the shopping mall yet walk a far distance inside the mall. It's hypocritical of me to have a handicap parking placard.

I feel it is better reserved for those who have a wheelchair and/or a mobility car/van, etc.

Research is also very important as well. It is also important not to rely on apathy in hopes of accomplishing something productive.
 
I have one - a placard. Not for the deafness but for the MCTD. I don't have to use it very often, but only when the MCTD "flares". Wow, its a blessing then. Mostly I try to get wherever I am going early to get a good parking spot.
 
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