County Commissioner proposes hearing test before interpreter hired

I have to admit, I am fairly shocked to find that this is an actual news story in my area. Charles Martin, Chairman of the Bucks County Pennsylvania Board of Commissioners was apparently taken aback by the huge amount of money spent on interpreters for people who don't speak English or cannot hear in the county courtrooms. He suggested that maybe our state representative could introduce legislation that allowing the county court to test peoples' ability to speak English or hear.

At a recent meeting, he asked this of the board:

"If they say they're deaf, we don't drop a book next to them and see if they jump?"

Seriously, ignorance at a level so extreme is sickening. Having people like this in government in simply inexcusable when 10% of our citizens are Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing.

Comments

Jay Croft said…
Could you please post the source of this article? Thank you.

Send it to my E mail address, if possible.
October 6, 2010 at 3:58 PM
abc said…
Maybe there should be a physical therapist posted at all wheelchair ramps, examining anyone who dares to attempt to use the ramp without a "documented" disability? We could probably get Medicaid funding to pay for this service, and immediately find work for 200,000 unemployed physical therapists! Where's that STIMULUS money when we really need it???
October 8, 2010 at 5:13 PM
SpeakUp Librarian said…
Thanks for your recent comment on my blog.

You're right, this is shocking and insulting.
October 15, 2010 at 8:29 AM
kim said…
Somehow I must have missed this when you first posted it. I think it's against federal ADA laws to require a hearing test before hiring an interpreter. What an idiot!
November 2, 2010 at 11:24 PM
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