This is very nice of advocacy. What do you at advocacy do when drs refuse to get terps for deaf patients, or other deaf problems? Like when your boss continues to make fun, or is it only when big businesses like banks such as Wells and Wachovia are concerned? I think this post sounds snippy - sorry - but I really do want this answer. Thank you
Hi Nan -
I don't think it sounds snippy at all. I know you are frustrated, as are the rest of the members in the deaf/hh community. It will take all of us working together in order to resolve the issue(s). As I mentioned in a private e-mail to you last night (before I saw this post), drs not providing effective communication is a problem everywhere else, not just Texas. We have yet to find that magical solution that will fix everything and so in the meantime, we have to do what we can with the resources we have. There is an idea floating about as to how we can resolve the dr problem, but it is not easy to implement. If any of you have heard of the "Sign Up Fund" (which allowed attorneys in Texas to pay for auxiliary aids and services such as terps or CART), the idea for the medical field would be similar to that.
As for problems such as employment discrimination (e.g., boss making fun), we do handle those complaints, as well. We help clients file an EEOC/TWC charge of discrimination and if it comes to mediation, we can also act as their counsel. But the individual has to contact us in order for us to even begin to try to help. At the same time, we cannot accept every single case that comes in although we try to accept as many as we can. As is true with other non profits affected by this economy, we have to make the best use of the resources we have.
So when it comes to litigation, we try to pick cases that we believe will have a systemic impact on whatever issue is at hand. Hence the focus on bigger companies. If they are brought into compliance, then it is more likely that more folks will be affected and also more likely that the smaller companies will follow suit.
I hope this helps to answer your questions. If you have any more qqs or concerns, feel free to e-mail or post and I will reply.
Faye