Were deaf man's rights violated?

rolling7 said:
On a serious note, the Officers explain how they came upon a deaf gentleman, Daniel, who eas way down on his luck. Using a writing tablet, Daniel explain he feared for his life tring to live on the street. Long story short, the Officers were able to get him into a men's shelter, Star of Hope, and then into a rehab program. Seem to me that is all they would do, I was wrong. The Officers actually have a before-and-after picture of Daniel on their cell phones. They got him a bank account so his SSDI could be direct deposit, a debt card so he would not have to carry cash around, then a part time job at Target (possible becoming fulltime after
probation period) and then put him in touch with VR, who helped him with a cell phone. I know I was not the only one amazed at the Officers going above and beyond the call of duty. Every city has its bad apples and Houston is no exemption but Houston also had bushels of good apples.
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What? Houston police officers helped a deaf homeless guy, Daniel to set up a bank account and get a job in order for him to turn over a new leaf. That's impressive.
 
rolling7 said:
Then Andy Scofield took the floor. He was there with his lawyer, Ms. Crain (hearing and ASL) who had him on a short leash. Because of this, Andy could only give a general idea of what happened that day. Nevertheless, it became known that the investigation is on-going and the DOJ and NAD are assisting. The actual responsibility belong to the Harris County District Attorney. Ms. Crain did not speak to the group but I know get wel from socials and she is a excellent lawyer for the deaf as she has a great feel for Deaf Culture. I know each of you wil be disappointed about the lack of information I can share but I too wish Andy could have said more. FOX NEWS was not there, my understanding is they had ben warn by Ms. Crain that Andy would not share much more than was already known and he would give no interview.

I'll come back to this situation and keep AD updated on and new facts and/or information.
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Who is doing the investigation? If Andy has to keep quiet about it, it's because his lawyer may take his case to a court when if the investigation finds no fault on the officer.
 
To the best of my knowledge, there are three seperate investigations. Primary is Harris County D.A. office in connection with the Constable Office. NAD and DOJ have their own but, as you can guess, they don't have the access that the D.A. has. No one HAS to speak with NAD AND DOJ but they HAVE TO with the D.A. (I'm not speaking of witnesses, only the involved parties).

Yes, Ms. Crain, as I said, is an excellent lawyer and will fight for Andy's rights all the way to the grave. Houston and its Deaf Community are lucky to have her living here.
 
Update

Had a social at Chick-fil-A with the deaf last night and Ms. Crain was there and she shared a little with the deaf. She has sent letters and called the D.A. office for more information but is being stonewalled, very agitative week for her. We (there were eleven deaf but Andy was not there) offered her our support and suggestions. One important issue was the D.A. and Constable wanting Andy to come in and give a statement. But that is putting the cart before the horse. First, it is paramount to get a rulling (in black and white) that Andy was discriminated against on the street duing this assault.

to be continue
 
Wow! In Houston? That's so uncool. His rights are definitely violated. I hope DA better be willing to put their efforts ensuring his voice is heard. I probably think three investigation is better than one investigation.
 
Deaf Sensitivity Training Video for Police Officers - YouTube

This video is great for all police officers to learn about deaf culture and our needs. Watch a clip (begin time at 10:00) about not using CODA as an interpreter in those situations.

There's one problem. What if a certified interpreter is not available at this hour?

BTW, it looks like this video popped up recently due to Andy's noted incident.
 
The best thing to do about getting an interpreter in an emergency like this is to notify the ER in advance and they will call up an interpreter with the victim en route in the ambulance. Then, the victim can get medical care and the police can take their report at the hospital. This is easier than arranging for two interpreters--one at the crime scene and another at the hospital, plus it takes time for an interpreter to drive over to the crime scene and that delays the victim's medical treatment.
 
kristy2078 said:
The best thing to do about getting an interpreter in an emergency like this is to notify the ER in advance and they will call up an interpreter with the victim en route in the ambulance. Then, the victim can get medical care and the police can take their report at the hospital. This is easier than arranging for two interpreters--one at the crime scene and another at the hospital, plus it takes time for an interpreter to drive over to the crime scene and that delays the victim's medical treatment.
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Not true. I don't think ALL emergency rooms have interpreters available for deaf patients.
 
Reba said:
No, they don't.
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Ok, I am curious how long it would take for them (ER) to get an interpreter. One time I went to ER alone, I requested for an interpreter but they said no and that they have someone who works there and knows sign language so I had nothing else to say except "OK". When I met him, he was not that bad (better than nothing).

I heard that a few ERs already have VRI which is available 24/7.
 
CrazyPaul said:
Ok, I am curious how long it would take for them (ER) to get an interpreter. One time I went to ER alone, I requested for an interpreter but they said no and that they have someone who works there and knows sign language so I had nothing else to say except "OK". When I met him, he was not that bad (better than nothing).
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There's a huge variety in times because there are so many variables involved. Some large urban hospitals might have a terp on staff who can run down to the ER pretty quick. Usually, the best one can hope for his a terp that's on call from an agency. Even then, it takes a while to get to the hospital. I've been called to the ER a few times for clients. It usually takes me at an hour to drive to the hospitals. We (terps) have to cover a large area, and almost no terp lives near a hospital.

I heard that a few ERs already have VRI which is available 24/7.
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Yes, more hospitals are using VRI.
 
Reba said:
There's a huge variety in times because there are so many variables involved. Some large urban hospitals might have a terp on staff who can run down to the ER pretty quick. Usually, the best one can hope for his a terp that's on call from an agency. Even then, it takes a while to get to the hospital. I've been called to the ER a few times for clients. It usually takes me at an hour to drive to the hospitals. We (terps) have to cover a large area, and almost no terp lives near a hospital.


Yes, more hospitals are using VRI.
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Since you are a certified interpreter, do you know if any business such as my workplace, hospitals, etc can use a tax write-off for interpreting services as a medical expense or not?

If they can, then from now on, when I ask for an interpreter as needed and if they say "I can't afford one", I would point out that they can write it off as a medical expense since they might not know about it and then they would say "Oh, really? then no problem". I guess that's one easy way to convince them. What do you think?
 
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CrazyPaul said:
Since you are a certified interpreter, do you know if any business such as my workplace, hospitals, etc can use a tax write-off for interpreting services as a medical expense or not?

If they can, then from now on, when I ask for an interpreter as needed and if they say "I can't afford one", I would point out that they can write it off as a medical expense since they might not know about it and then they would say "Oh, really? then no problem". I guess that's one easy way to convince them. What do you think?
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Go to this link:

Questions and Answers for Health Care Providers | National Association of the Deaf

Print out copies. Keep one for yourself. The other copies you can hand out to your health care providers. You can use a highlighter to mark the relevant sections.

The part you asked about specifically:

"Can health care providers receive any tax credits for the costs of providing auxiliary aids and services?

Eligible small businesses may claim a tax credit of up to 50 percent of eligible access expenditures that are over $250, but less than $10,250. The amount credited may be up to $5,000 per tax year. Eligible access expenditures include the costs of qualified interpreters, CART services, and other auxiliary aids and services. Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, P.L. 101-508, § 44. Please consult with your financial or tax advisor on this issue."
 
This kind of interaction seems to happen a lot

My son is 16 and was born deaf. He has been going to an ASL immersion school for 7 years now, since a "Total Communication" school wasn't helping him learn academically. My biggest concern is when he is out without me or and is either picked on by bullies or gets involved, somehow, with police who don't get that he's deaf. It scares me.
 
aviavi43 said:
My son is 16 and was born deaf. He has been going to an ASL immersion school for 7 years now, since a "Total Communication" school wasn't helping him learn academically. My biggest concern is when he is out without me or and is either picked on by bullies or gets involved, somehow, with police who don't get that he's deaf. It scares me.
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panic-button.jpg



My grandfather who is 3rd generation deaf, and never been to school due to World War 2 (Soviets against Fascists). He raised my mother just fine, and he is living his full life and still today.
 
aviavi43 said:
My son is 16 and was born deaf. He has been going to an ASL immersion school for 7 years now, since a "Total Communication" school wasn't helping him learn academically. My biggest concern is when he is out without me or and is either picked on by bullies or gets involved, somehow, with police who don't get that he's deaf. It scares me.
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i think you got same concerns as any parent but you just got let go and let him fly..i say if get a child to 18 and they go off look after themselves you done good job as a parent.He going to find high and lows and got be able to handle it on his own if he to live life to the full...on the whole most people are kind and when see he deaf they accept it...you can not protect him all the time it unfair to him to do so,i know as a parent it very hard
 
caz12 said:
i think you got same concerns as any parent but you just got let go and let him fly..i say if get a child to 18 and they go off look after themselves you done good job as a parent.He going to find high and lows and got be able to handle it on his own if he to live life to the full...on the whole most people are kind and when see he deaf they accept it...you can not protect him all the time it unfair to him to do so,i know as a parent it very hard
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yep.. when you'll die, who's gonna hold your son's hand then???

Fuzzy
 
I read both threads (Reba linked to this one). As I understand it, Mr. Scofield was able to call 911 using video relay. The need for an interpreter was met by making that call.

I was indirectly involved in a very similar situation a couple of years ago. A Deaf man was living with a homosexual couple. He was subletting a room from them, and was not aware it was against the Apartment Complex's regulations to do so. In other words, the lease holders (the homosexual couple) were not permitted to sublet a room to him. The Deaf man did not know this, but the Homosexual couple did.

Well, the homosexual couple had gotten into a fight with each other, and one of the partners left for a couple of months. When they made up, and decided to be a couple again, they both decided to kick the Deaf man out.

He had nowhere to go. He could not understand them (they were screaming at him to pack his things and were basically throwing him in the street).

He called me on VP and asked for my help. I told him to call 911. He was very scared, extremely terrified.

He asked me what he needed to tell the police, I told him to call me on VP when the police got there.

When the police arrived, I told him to show the officer how he was communicating with me. His English was not great, so I signed to him to write a note to the officer, that he was going to need the officers cell phone number and would call the officer.

Luckily, the officer was able to understand what he was trying to tell him, and the call was made, and he had an interpreter the whole time the officer needed to talk to him.

Through the course of this intervention, it was discovered that the homosexual couple had cornered him in his own room, that he was paying rent for, and physically attacked him.
 
I will be attending a social and Ms. Crain will be there but not sure about Andy.
I'll be asking her because it is my understanding that Andy did NOT make a relay call to 911 at the time of this incident. It is also my understanding that he did have the Constable Office come by his home wanting to get statements from him but he refused because there was no interpreter. During my last conversation with Ms. Crain, she shared that Andy never gave an official statement to the Constable Office and they have cut off all communication with him. They only speak with her, the D.A. and DOJ. No trial date has been set for the original incident nor for the civil rights lawsuit. I'll update after speaking with Ms. Crain, don't be suprise if she has shut down supplying facts.
 
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