D.C. deaf community testifies in support for “Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing”

[Transcript] Multiple members of the D.C. deaf community testified before the Committee on Government Operations at Council of the District of Columbia in a public hearing on a bill that aims to establish the “Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing” and have its director be appointed by the D.C. Mayor.

According to Bill B23-0147, the new ODHH, if formed, would focus on the needs of the “Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind community,” which include ASL interpretation, ensuring all DC agencies are accessible to deaf people, addressing concerns on language deprivation, and acting as advocates towards the DC government and private organizations. The ODHH Director would be a full-time, paid position along with at least three full-time, paid staff.

Six out of 13 councilmembers sponsored the bill.

Here is a video from two of the people who testified, Robb Dooling and Brianne Burger. It was filmed by Travis Dougherty, who also testified.

BRIANNE BURGER:

Hi! I’m Brianne Burger (signs name).

ROBB DOOLING:

Hi, I’m Robb Dooling (signs name).

BURGER:

We’re here at the DC Council and there is a hearing for a bill to establish the Office on Deaf and Hard of Hearing here in D.C.

DOOLING:

34 other states have this, but D.C. doesn’t have one even though we have one of the largest deaf and hard of hearing populations. So we are advocating hard to make the bill happen. Many other deaf people testified here as well.

BURGER:

After today’s hearing has wrapped up, the DC Council will discuss on if they need to change the language in the bill or move it for a vote. We hope for a vote to establish the ODHH as soon as possible, maybe in 2021. As soon as possible.

DOOLING:

Yeah!

Alex: Dooling, who is a DC Association of the Deaf Member-at-Large, said the deputy of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said they are opposed to the bill because there is already a DC Office of Disability Rights.

Dooling said many statements from the public pointed out that there are large gaps in the ODR coverage when it concerns the deaf community. He said councilmembers who supported this bill asked the Mayor’s office “How many ODR staff know ASL?” He said the office couldn’t answer while the audience shouted, “ZERO!” Another question was, “What partnerships does the ODR have with the Deaf community?” They didn’t answer.

Dooling said five of them approached the executive (Mayor’s) witness and had a thoughtful conversation.

The DCAD posted on Facebook a link to a video that shows the full hearing and people’s testimonies along with timecodes of when specific people testified. Over 20 people testified in person, including Gallaudet President Roberta “Bobbi” Cordano and students from the Kendall Demonstration Elementary School. Other DC community members have sent in written or video testimonies to the DC Council.

What’s next? The committee will have to bring it to the full DC Council for a vote in a to-be-determined date. There is no guarantee of a vote, though.

DCAD: https://www.facebook.com/DCADeaf/photos/a.418114654871587/3069897653026594/?type=3&theater

Bill Text: http://lims.dccouncil.us/Download/41895/B23-0147-Introduction.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0ExayqejUlFEkrCM3D8q8NdypTa7-KA2eYSeXhTMoABYEmCkHTzUQIIXY

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Supported by:

Convo [https://convo.click/2mVhM8h]

Gallaudet University: [gallaudet.edu]