In light of Deaf Awareness Month, it’s important to note how far the deaf community has come and how much further it can go. Take sign language, for example.
Although the history of sign language dates back centuries, it remained a barrier at the Indiana BMV until just five years ago. The written driver’s test operated largely under the assumption that most deaf people read English.
“Many people assume that American Sign Language (ASL) is a visual form of English, and it’s not,” said Jennifer Alka, deaf services case manager at Easterseals Crossroads. “American Sign Language is its own language with its own grammar and rules.”
As Indiana School for the Deaf students Olivia and Sophia Wascher said, they don’t always understand written English and they are accustomed to taking tests in which all the questions are signed in ASL. However, the long-standing process for deaf Hoosiers taking the driver’s test involved making an appointment with an ASL interpreter weeks in advance and having to wait two weeks for another interpreter if they failed the exam.
“That’s not equal access, as any hearing person who failed the test could go back to the BMV and take it again the next day,” Alka said.
Easterseals Crossroads worked with the BMV to implement a computerized version of the test with a video link of an ASL interpreter signing the questions.
“A huge barrier for deaf people no longer exists,” said Stephanie Ritchie, former director of deaf services at Easterseals Crossroads. “An entire new generation of drivers will never realize that there were struggles with testing accessibility.”
Further Leaps in ASL
As Easterseals Crossroads’ current Director of Deaf Services Katy Rademacher pointed out, ASL interpretation is becoming a more instantaneous solution. For instance, video remote interpreting (VRI) is a 24/7 service that connects deaf people to live interpreters in a matter of mere seconds.
Thanks to Easterseals Crossroads and the INDATA Project, a Community Health Network employee named Dosia now keeps an iPad in her desk drawer for whenever she has a work meeting that requires VRI.
While interpreting for professional interactions seems sensible, more personal communication — such as therapy — can be a challenge in Indiana.
“There is only one mental health center in the state with an onsite deaf therapist,” Rademacher said. “Although interpreters are an option, some people may prefer to talk directly to their therapist without a third party in the room or on video. Of course, a deaf, ASL-fluent therapist would be ideal. That’s why more deaf people or individuals who are fluent in ASL should become therapists and doctors and veterinarians. Inclusion is the key.”
Easterseals Crossroads is making this a reality by seeking employment opportunities and accommodations for deaf Hoosiers like Dosia and Rademacher herself.
As Rademacher hoped, the healthcare field is growing in deaf employees like Dosia. She recently found employment in Health Information Management at Community Health Network. Dosia handles confidential patient information for various hospitals across Indianapolis.
These strides toward accessibility and inclusion not only help individuals but organizations as well.
“When accessibility solutions are provided for one group of individuals, such as the deaf and hard of hearing community, it really does enhance the experience for everybody else,” said TCS Interpreting and Captions Founder and CEO Jessica Aiello in a recent INDATA interview. “When we see that happen, what we also notice statistically is that organizations are more collaborative, they have increased performance and results, they are more creative together, and all of that leads to innovation.”
Working toward accessibility is a practice in collaborating and creating solutions, which is universally valuable across any organization.
“I’ve learned a lot, and I’m still learning,” Dosia said. “Community Health Network has been very motivated and supportive of me being here.”
A major resource that helped Dosia through her journey to employment was Digital Literacy Training. This is just one part of the comprehensive, collaborative support Easterseals offers to deaf Hoosiers through case management services.
Case Management Services
For the deaf, deaf-blind, hard of hearing, and/or late-deafened community, Easterseals provides case managers to assist clients with:
- Advocacy
- Community education and outreach
- Information and referrals
Case management is a collaborative process that assesses, plans, implements, coordinates, monitors and evaluates the options and services required to meet each client’s unique personal and professional needs.
As Dosia said about her Career Navigator Jessica Mawby: “When I met Jessica at Easterseals Crossroads, everything was immediate. We just kept rolling through, and we didn’t waste any time. I really appreciated that. She has a lot of patience and she’s very helpful. I would faithfully go to all my appointments because she was working so hard to find me a job. I love her. We just connect. We became good friends.”
For more information about employment help for deaf Hoosiers and other deaf services, visit this page. And for more insight on the importance of sign language versus reading English as well as breaking communication barriers, check out INDATA’s aforementioned interview with Jessica Aiello.
Images in order:
Indiana BMV driver’s test image courtesy of youtube.com/@INBMV.
Photo of Dosia courtesy of Easterseals Crossroads.
Deaf Services Case Management image courtesy of Easterseals Crossroads.
