DC Council unanimously passes bill to establish DC Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The D.C. Association of the Deaf (DCAD) announced last week that a bill to establish a D.C. Office for Deaf and Hard of Hearing unanimously passed with all 13 council members in favor.
The bill aims to allocate a budget of $836,000 to hire six full-time staff. The office would be similar to other state offices that focus on Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing individuals and their issues and needs.
DC has one of the largest deaf and hearing populations in the U.S.
The DCAD said this was the DC Council’s first vote and that there will be a second vote. The second vote might happen next week. If it passes, it will then go to the D.C. Mayor for her signature, and then go to the U.S. Congress for a 30-day review before it becomes law. '
The D.C. lawmaking process is unique because it is not a state.
[Sponsored Video from Convo}
There was a hearing in October 2019 in which many deaf people provided testimonies in favor of establishing the office.
At that time, the D.C. Mayor’s office voiced opposition against the office because they feel that the DC Office of Disability Rights (ODR) is sufficient to meet the needs of deaf residents, but the DCAD pointed out that none of the ODR staff know ASL or have developed partnerships with the deaf community. The DCAD said an office focused on deaf people would be the best way to advocate for our needs.
The DCAD is asking deaf DC residents to contact council members to continue to push for their support, especially as the second vote nears. It may happen on August 4. For more information, please follow DCAD’s Facebook page.