re: "equal access"... really equal? SHOULD it be?

That makes me sad. And makes me want to definitely take an ASL course while I'm in school, especially since I'll be in the same line as work someday. Hopefully. I'd hate to not be able to help someone because of such a big communication barrier.

Quoting Ravey Candyass:" <blockquote><b>Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting º×ß¡±©µ×º:</b>" ... [snip!] ... order to get a decent job? If I went to south America I'd be damned sure I knew at least the smurfing basics of theirlangauge."

English is a smurfing hard language to learn. After a certain point of childhood it is VERY hard to learn another language. It can be done but it is hard especially if you don't have the right support. I get that if we moved somewhere else we would want to learn the language, but it's not that simple. It really isn't. Language acquisition is hard the older you are, and especially English... our language is moronic to be honest. To teach someone English when it has so many special case rules... it's stupid. I'm sorry but it's just not that simple.

We need more programs to help those of all languages learn English, because total immersion without support as an adult is exceptionally hard.

That's sad and frustrating.
IMO, we should make SOME accommodations but those that don't speak, understand, read and write English should bearing their own assistance.
And, if they are illegal they shouldn't be filling out an application for assistance.