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

As someone who works in government, it's my obligation to serve each of our clients equally... but is it really equal? Is it equal access when I have to explain to an interpreter what I'm saying, the program, etc. Is it equal access when someone coming up to a window to ask a question about their welfare benefits that they have to wait longer to get their question answered because not all the workers speak Spanish? SHOULD it be equal? Is it POSSIBLE to be equal in these cases?

I was getting frustrated a bit today because there was a man I helped, deaf from birth, who needed help with his application. Super frustrating because we go way out of our way to help even illegal immigrants understand the program in THEIR primary language but a man who has no choice in the fact that he speaks ASL had to jump through hoops because no one understood him and we still couldn't provide interpretation for him   Makes me sad that "equal access" isn't really equal in any sense of the phrase.

That makes me ill that they are more accommodating too illegals than the handicapped

Did he know how to write? You two cold have written back and forth on a piece of paper. I had to do that before in a previous customer service position. It worked quite well.

Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:" Did he know how to write? You two cold have written back and forth on a piece of paper. I had to do that before in a previous customer service position. It worked quite well."

This was my fist thought.

Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:" Did he know how to write? You two cold have written back and forth on a piece of paper. I had to do that before in a previous customer service position. It worked quite well."

if they state can provide and interpreter for someone who is illegal they sure as hell better have someone who can do sign language

It's not equal at all. Even if they didn't provide interpreters for immigrants, the immigrants could still learn English, it's just language. This man has a disability, he will never be able to hear.

Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:" Did he know how to write? You two cold have written back and forth on a piece of paper. I had to do that before in a previous customer service position. It worked quite well."

What the hail do you think we did? LOL But in LARGE print and he couldn't write well and couldn't read well. Luckily, I DO Sign a bit but not fluently. I understood what he was saying but I had a hard time remembering what signs for what. But the point is, IT'S NOT EQUAL ACCESS. Everyone gets printed material in turner's language that explains the programs.

<blockquote><b>Quoting º×ß¡±©µ×º:</b>" if they state can provide and interpreter for someone who is illegal they sure as hell better have someone who can do sign language "</blockquote>




Is was a general question. If they didn't have anyone to translate she could have written in a piece of paper back and forth. I never said it was right to not have someone who knows sign language. Also who the smurf said all Spanish speaking people are illegal?!

Quoting R o b y n:" It's not equal at all. Even if they didn't provide interpreters for immigrants, the immigrants could still learn English, it's just language. This man has a disability, he will never be able to hear."

True, true. But even when we provide an interpreter, it's still not serving them equally. I sure don't explain everything I would to an interpreter (especially if it's an over the phone interpreter) as I would have to an english speaker. Takes too much time that I don't have.

Quoting º×ß¡±©µ×º:" if they state can provide and interpreter for someone who is illegal they sure as hell better have someone who can do sign language "

You'd think... right? But we're all only human. I think what frustrates me the most is we asked this dude to accomodate us but when we have other than english language speakers who speak english passibly we still, by law, HAVE, to get an interpreter for them if they ask for one. Even if they're just dropping a paper off  

<blockquote><b>Quoting Nathaniel'sMom:</b>" <blockquote><b>Quoting º×ß¡±©µ×º:</b>" if they state can provide and interpreter ... [snip!] ... said it was right to not have someone who knows sign language. Also who the smurf said all Spanish speaking people are illegal?!"</blockquote>




But dude let's be serious. If they want to live here, they should learn the damn language. Why do WE have to learn their in 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.

There is such a large population of Spanish speakers in the US that the demand for Spanish to English interpreters has just skyrocketed over the past few decades. Unfortunately for your customer, ASL interpreters are not as needed.

It's kind of bologna, but in the end it's all supply and demand.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Ravey Candyass:</b>" <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."</blockquote>



Maybe they do understand basics but they can't understand directions for paperwork in their second language?

Quoting Fatty McRunnerPants:" You'd think... right? But we're all only human. I think what frustrates me the most is we asked this ... [snip!] ... we still, by law, HAVE, to get an interpreter for them if they ask for one. Even if they're just dropping a paper off  "

When I worked in customer service/retail I would get a deaf customer with a question from time to time and we would communicate through writing because I do not know how to sign. There was one time I broke down in tears after helping a deaf man for over an hour, through writing, figure out which camera was best for him. I wasn't upset that I spent a good deal of time helping him, I was upset that everyone but myself avoided him and I got in trouble for helping him for so long.  

After that I began to learn some ASL, but not enough to really help me...I'd like to pick it up again.

If I were you I'd make a suggestion to your boss that someone who can interpret ASL come on board. I'm sure it won't get you far, but maybe plant that seed?

<blockquote><b>Quoting Fatty McRunnerPants:</b>" What the hail do you think we did? LOL But in LARGE print and he couldn't write well and couldn't ... [snip!] ... what. But the point is, IT'S NOT EQUAL ACCESS. Everyone gets printed material in turner's language that explains the programs."</blockquote>


Is there a way to get the TTDY hooked up in office maybe one counter, so you can do a three way call? IDK maybe that would be worth suggesting to upper management? It would help bridge a gap possibly. Since there is a flaw now.