Marjorie, who is deaf, did not receive an interpreter for a critical appointment she had with a state agency, despite requesting one in advance. Instead of trying to help her, staff at the state office told her that she’d have to reschedule or bring someone to help her communicate. Marjorie was worried – missing the appointment meant she was not able to complete required paperwork and risked losing critical supports. This was not the first time she experienced a problem – each time, the staff told her the issue would be fixed, but it never was. Our attorney reached out to the state ombudsman for help. As a result, the state agency agreed to conduct additional training about scheduling interpreters, using video relay, and effectively communicating with people who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Fighting for the Right to Communicate
