Brian, just because we were not “informed” of the true agenda of having a march does NOT mean we are against it. I did hear about it before any of this was posted online.

I just believe that if a protest takes place, organizers should go to great lengths to post more information and educate the community about what is going on. Only a room full of people at the last Deafness Resource Meeting only knew what was going on, but no one outside that room knew enough information to be aware of the situation (other than providers who serve Deaf and HOH in Houston).

I believe that Houston Deaf Rights leaders DO have a GOOD cause to lead this protest… I am just strongly urging further education towards the Deaf Community and to make sure the Deaf members fully comprehend what is going on and what they are protesting against.

Brian, I truly hope all goes smoothly and peacefully and that your voices are heard and that light is shed on what is going on with HPD and City of Houston.

Warm Regards,

Julie Reese

We had facts that had been addressed at our last Deaf community meeting last month. We are having another meeting tonight, and the facts or the information on true agenda will be presented for those who previously were not
informed.

Also, many deaf service providers in Houston who serves our target population has been aware of how the city treats deaf and hard of hearing citizens.

Back in 1998, two deaf individuals filed a lawsuit against City of Houston as well as Harris County with Department of Justice, Advocacy,Inc., and National Association of the Deaf, and they won. The settlement had been made. NAD’s website has an article about this case so you all may want to check it out. Anyway, even the settlements had
been made with DOJ, our deaf citizens have ongoing complaints. Apparently, Houston Police frequently ignored their communication policy, based on these citizens’ ongoing complaints, and that also applies to municipal courts.

For an example, in fact, this year, there were instances that HPD or Harris County Sheriff failed to provide a communication access to these deaf citizens even they requested for an interpreter when they dialed 911. They got arrested instead because HPD listened to hearing
citizens, and didn’t even bother to try to communicate with the deaf ones.

Dial 311 and Dial 211 both are not accessible to both of groups of deaf and hard of hearing who use VP or Captel. For TTY users, they claimed that it took them forever.

Currently, some of these deaf victims already filed a complaint against HPD with a legal assistive organization.

Again, thank you, Patti, for sharing your experiences and providing a suggested guideline of having a productive march, etc.

Yes, we have learned through the deaf advocate’s recent participation in other disabled
activities that our effort to ensure the City’s compliance with ADA and other disabled laws related to deaf/hard of hearing has to be ongoing.

Will keep you all posted.

Darren Thomas

This email caught my eye & I can’t help but smile at the similarities in the feelings expressed now and back during the first protest at Gallaudet University for a “Deaf President Now” in March, 1988…

I was fortunate to be there as a graduate student at Gallaudet and on the front lines as history was made…and I learned some valuable lessons in working with the media & politicians in general. There were folks who opposed the protest and those who supported it, but the important thing is that we put aside our differences and worked together for a common cause. I’m not sure that waiting to have a Deaf Awareness Week the most appropriate thing to do to get your legal issues addressed now…I’m also not saying that the Deaf Awareness Week isn’t important, it IS but you need to do much, much more than that…protecting your legal rights is a daily, weekly, monthly, year-round thing…not a onetime event during the year!

You need to have your act together – the Houston Deaf Rights group needs to organize and put out a list of Issues with concrete examples of each, i.e.: legal rights not being addressed or respected, discrimination, etc. What have you tried in terms of resolving these issues in the past? Again you needs dates & data to prove your case..

There is a HUGE amount of pre-planning and organizing to be done before your March — Be sure you have other members of the Deaf Community involved – Interpreters, CODAS, Parents of Deaf children, Deaf-Blind, Teachers from Deaf Programs, members of other disability groups, lawyers, etc…everybody knows somebody who know somebody else who has contacts or can help! They should all help you get the word out to the WHOLE Community, not just the Deaf groups, etc, about the March and be in the City Council Chambers when you speak to the Council.

When you march, keep it peaceful – be sure you have a city permit to march…make sure you are visible, wear similar colors or t-shirts with your slogan on it so people will know who you are

Alert the TV/News media in advance so they can be there to publicize your march – prepare a flyer to distrubute during the march, see if a local printing company can donate this for you…

Have ONE Spokes-person to address the City Council – be sure you know the protocol for signing up to speak, which is usually limited to 2-5 minutes, depending on their rules & respect that – be sure to request an Interpreter be there, and bring one along just in case!.

Prepare a hand out to give to the City Council Mambers which lists your concerns and what you want done to resolve them

Present your information in a calm, professional manner, with clear “Talking Points” that show each issue. Appeal to the Council’s sense of doing the right thing, appeal to their sense that we are all on the same team, not a “us vs them” approach. Show them you want to help and work with the Council to improve things so Houston can be a model city, contact Advocacy Inc.and the Texas Governor’s Committee for Pesons with Disabilities to get their ideas & support.

I know the Houston Deaf Rights Organizers are great people and good Leaders, and I wish you all the best!!

Good luck with your Protest and Remember, “It’s always cheaper to provide access than go to court!”

Patti E. Singleton, Ph.D.
drpatti7@aol.com