Deaf Awareness in Washington DC
Here's a Letter to the Editor of the Washington
Post by Diane Edge. Following that is a short article on the actions
taken by the DC police to settle a Federal lawsuit filed by Vernon
Shorter and the Disability Rights Office, and then a response from Ken
Kresse regarding activities in Fremont, CA.
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Editor: Most of you have heard of the recent tragic death of Eric
Plunkett, a Gallaudet University freshman, in his dorm room. Our
condolences go out to his family and friends.
What you may not have heard is the how the investigation is being
conducted, and especially how ill-prepared the Washington DC police
department appears to be to interact with Washington's deaf citizens.
Gallaudet University has been a Washington fixture for over a hundred
years, and Washington DC is often mentioned as one of the most hearing
loss-friendly cities in the US. But it seems that the police department
there has neither a TTY nor an ongoing relationship with ASL
interpreters. So how do they communicate with their deaf citizens?
Deaf advocate Diane Edge was sufficiently upset at the conduct of the
Washington DC police that she wrote a letter to the Washington Post. She
has kindly given us permission to reprint her letter. BTW, Diane is the
moderator of the Deaf Advocate list on egroups. If you'd like
information about that group, or wish to join it, point your browser to
http://www.egroups.com/group/DeafAdvocate
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dear Editor:
The murder investigation of Eric Franklin Plunkett, a 19-year-old
freshman found dead in his dorm at Gallaudet University has caused many
to focus and I believe, highlights the inadequate and ineffective means
in which the DC Police Dept. has consistently ignored establishing
effective communication between the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and hearing
world.
While I can appreciate that the departments at Gallaudet wanted to
cooperate and aid the Police investigation, I find it almost a criminal
action that DC Police Departments are not already fully compliant with
the Americans With Disabilities Act, this Dept. should have already had
in their possession a TTY(text phone) for receiving calls from Deaf
residents, the 911 system should already be set up that every silent
call is answered by a TTY, this Police Department should have already
established a working professional relationship with certified
interpreters, so that all of the citizens and people that pass through
have their civil rights protected. How many deaf have been stopped or
questioned by the police without an interpreter, how many have spent
time in DC Jails without knowing why they were there and in the absence
of no TTY phones to call for help?
When this senseless slaying of such a young person is heighten in the
eyes of the world, not only does it show that the breakdown of
communication exists but it further demonstrates that this Police
Department in the Nations Capital was not equipped to deal effectively
with their deaf consumers. This Police Dept. was not equipped to handle
a serious crime and it scares me to think of how many other incidents in
the past have been mishandled because of DC's lack of deaf awareness and
training.
When I saw that Gallaudet would loan a TTY to be used, I can only
shake my head in disbelief that a piece of office equipment (TTY phone)
that does provide a communication link between two worlds is not already
being used by DC Police.
I find it ironic that it takes a serious event at Gallaudet to once
again, draw the attention to the continued civil rights abuse that we in
the deaf community face everyday and highlights the lack of awareness
towards the Deaf Community.
I am grieved that such a heinous act has taken place on this campus
and it is my hope that what should have been done to prepare for
establishing a policy for this City's Police Dept. to deal with Deaf
consumers is not forgotten.
Diane Edge
DC Lawsuit Settlement Promises Better Treatment of People with
Hearing Loss
A few issues ago we published a letter to the editor of the
Washington Post from deaf advocate Diane Edge. The topic of the letter
was the deplorable state of deaf services provided by the Washington DC
police department. Recent news regarding the Washington police
department indicates that Diane hit the nail on the head with her
analysis.
As part of a settlement of a federal lawsuit, the DC police recently
agreed to substantially improve services to Washington's deaf citizens.
They agreed to provide communications access, including interpreters and
TTYs, and to institute personnel training.
The settlement requires the police to contract an interpreting
agency, which can provide interpreters skilled in both ASL and Signed
English. Interpreters will be on call 24 hours a day, and will respond
anywhere in the city within 90 minutes. In addition, police stations
will install TTYs within 90 days, and police will be required to provide
written notification of these new services when responding to calls.
The lawsuit was filed by Vernon Shorter and the Disability Rights
Council of Greater Washington. Mr. Shorter was arrested and held for
three days as a burglary suspect, before charges were dropped. Mr.
Shorter contends that the police made no effort to communicate with him
or to determine if he understood the charges against him. He also
contends that he was not provided an interpreter, nor was he allowed to
make telephone calls.
In addition to improving access and training, the Washington Police
Department paid undisclosed damages to Mr. Shorter and the Disability
Rights Council.
Ken Kresse Comments on Fremont, CA Case
Editor: Ken Kresse (Ken.Kresse@deaflaw.org) responded to our recent
discussions of how local police treat deaf citizens with the following
report. Hopefully these results will persuade other police organizations
to make necessary changes BEFORE a deaf citizen is abused to the point
of taking legal action.
I saw the item on the DC Police and thought your readers may be
interested in a similar settlement regarding the Fremont, CA Police.
Earlier this year, the Fremont Police settled a federal lawsuit
brought by a deaf man and the California Association of the Deaf. The
deaf man was interviewed twice by a police investigator without an
interpreter. After turning himself in, the deaf man was placed in the
city jail for several hours before he was turned over to the county
sheriff. While in jail, he did not have access to a telephone because he
required a TTY and none was provided. Because he did not have TTY access
at the county jail facilities, either, he spent two days in jail before
he was bailed out.
The Police Department agreed to provide an interpreter during
interviews any time a suspect requests one and to provide TTY access for
any jailed deaf inmate. A new jail being constructed will have TTY's
permanently installed in its holding cells. Department policy already
required interpreters for deaf inmates being interrogated while in
custody and contracts for interpreter services on a 24/7 basis. The
Department also provided interpreters at its Citizen's Academy to allow
12 deaf people to participate as students and agreed to have all its
officers undergo at least two hours of training in deaf awareness. It
also paid an undisclosed amount to the individual plaintiff.
This was the second time this office has sued the Fremont Police
Department. The first suit was brought several years ago on behalf of a
deaf crime victim.
Ken Kresse
Legal Director
California Center for Law and the Deaf
14895 East 14th St., Suite 220
San Leandro, CA 94578
(510) 483-0922 TTY/V
(510) 483-0967 Fax
(877) DEAFLAW [332-3529] Toll Free
E-mail: calclad@deaflaw.org
Web Site: www.deaflaw.org
