Advocates say better accounting of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in the state’s care and better access to translators is needed.
A sign for the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services building in Austin on Nov. 14, 2019., The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to speed on the most essential Texas news.
“During that meeting, I tried to remain hopeful that they would recognize and see how bad it was,” said Andrea Bright-Fontana, who lives in Austin, has fostered four deaf children and three hearing children, and is fluent in American Sign Language. Specifically, the governor’s committee recommended that DFPS designate an expert on deafness who has fluent sign language skills and could be an advocate for this population of children.
“The state should have insight into that [medical information] to be able to get a better accounting of it,” said Meredith Parekh, an attorney at Disability Rights Texas, a disability advocacy nonprofit. But the process of getting these interpreters is difficult. State workers can use local interpreters through an interagency contract with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission which “allows DFPS to use HHSC sign language providers for any need, including visits with children in foster care or interviews with clients during investigations,” Gonzalez, the DFPS spokesperson, said.
“When we got done, I turned to her and I said, ‘You do realize I could have pushed him?’” Bright-Fontana said. “I could have pushed him, I could have hurt him and you would have been none the wiser because I just interpreted between the two of you and you allowed that to happen. I told you to bring an interpreter and you didn’t.”
“I cried and cried and cried,” said Schwall-Hoyt’s daughter, now 20, whose name is being withheld for safety concerns. “I didn’t understand a whole lot.” “If you don’t ever meet an adult who is deaf, how do you visualize yourself navigating the world as a deaf individual in the future?” Hall said. For children dependent on a higher level of care, such as that given in a residential treatment facility for behavioral health, Texas has limited options for where they can go. At least five kids in the last decade have been sent out of the state of Texas to facilities that specialize in the care of deaf children, said Parekh, the Disability Rights Texas attorney.
日本 最新ニュース, 日本 見出し
Similar News:他のニュース ソースから収集した、これに似たニュース記事を読むこともできます。
From Pageant to Politics: Former Miss Texas Running for North Texas House SeatThe pageant queen is vying for House District 112 north of Dallas, a seat long held by GOP state Rep. Angie Chen Button.
続きを読む »
Texas A&M University-College StationThe latest Texas A&M University-College Station news from The Texas Tribune.
続きを読む »
Allegations of anti-Latino bias in N.J. court were mishandled, advocates sayA South Jersey municipal court denied Latino defendants the opportunity to appear virtually for their court hearings, the state Attorney General's office alleged in a complaint last week.
続きを読む »
'Not Enough,' Advocates Say as Biden Claims He's 'Practically' Declared Climate Emergency'There's nothing more important than what happens today,' said one environmental lawyer. 'And there's no person in the world with more power to do good than Joe Biden.'
続きを読む »
Advocates hope school districts will take Epilepsy training more seriously following Whiteland student’s deathA 2019 law requires all school employees who have direct contact with students to go through training that teaches staff how to recognize the signs and symptoms of seizures.
続きを読む »
Safe Haven law advocates host fundraising yoga seriesTwo Chicago area nonprofits hosted a fundraiser for the newborn Safe Haven Law Wednesday evening.
続きを読む »