ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Rochester area is home to one of the largest per capita populations of deaf people in the country, according to the city’s website. However, a non-partisan group has raised concerns about the lack of access to essential services for many in the deaf community.
Declan Stablow of News10NBC spoke with Davin Searls from the Deaf Equity Council (DEC) about these challenges. The DEC aims to reduce language, accessibility, and cultural barriers faced by the local deaf community. After five years of effort, the council received its charter earlier this year.
Searls mentioned that a recent boil water advisory was not available in American Sign Language, highlighting a lack of accessibility to public service announcements. He also shared his personal experiences with employment challenges.
“For myself, I’ve already applied for a job, and then I’ll say I need an interpreter, and then it’s kind of like they drop the ball,” Searls said.
Despite the significant presence of the deaf community in Rochester, Searls said this presence is not reflected in local government.
“Now with the DEC we have that. We have the deaf people who will be talking with legislature, making decisions, and could shape policy, the way that it would be successful,” said Searls.
Searls also expressed concerns about recent Medicaid cuts, which could impact the deaf community.
“Medicaid is not just health insurance for many deaf people, it also covers interpreters, transportation, or if they’re needing in-home support,” Searls said.
Searls suggested policies such as tax incentives for companies that hire deaf people and increased access to interpreters as potential benefits for the deaf community.
Searls said taking sign language classes, attending deaf cultural classes, and educating oneself on the needs of the deaf community can help.
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