Category Archives: Deaf Rights
Reclaiming my Deaf Lineage
It is important to recognize and understand our ancestors and the struggles that they may have had as being part of a minority population that has been stigmatized and hidden in the shadows of family trees. By reclaiming and retelling our family stories and including, and being proud, of what they had to go through, whether they were queer, disabled or otherwise marginalized, like putting a stone on their headstone, it honors their lives and blesses their memory.
Text-to-911 is now available in Miami-Dade County
Residents can now send text messages to 911 during emergency situations.
The Text-to-911 service is operational across all of Miami-Dade County’s 911 call centers.
Do I still have a claim? – Effects of Cummings v. Premier Rehab on the future of claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act or Section 504
By Matthew W. Dietz .pdf version On April 28, 2022, the United States Supreme Court, in Cummings v. Premier Rehab Keller, P.L.L.C., 142 S. Ct. 1562 (2022), found that damages are unavailable for discrimination without a physical injury in all federal disability laws (such as the ADA and Section 504), and some sex and… Read More »
Sign Language Interpreting Fund for Community and Family Inclusion
One of the collateral benefits of a suit under the Americans with Disabilities Act is to build awareness of the needs of Persons with Disabilities. Unfortunately, most settlements are confidential, so this benefit is limited, and the only entity improving their polices or accessibility are the defendant in the case. However, that was not… Read More »
Are Doctors or Hospitals Required to Provide Interpreters for Deaf Patients and what are the penalties for not doing so?
A Deaf patient has the right to participate in his or her care to the same degree as a hearing person, including conveying and receiving medical information from doctors or a hospital. The ultimate result of the treatment does not matter as much as having the ability to understand the entire treatment.
Florida Association of the Deaf settles effective communication with Bethesda Hospitals
The Florida Association of the Deaf is pleased to announce the lawsuit brought by deaf patients against Bethesda Hospitals has been resolved. After almost five years, the lawsuit brought by the Florida Association (“FAD”) and individual deaf patients has been resolved amicably. Bethesda Hospitals will ensure effective communication with deaf patients. Any financial terms… Read More »
Are Deaf Women entitled to Reproductive Choice?
Disability Independence Group files suit against Planned Parenthood for failing to provide sign language interpreters or programs for Deaf Girls and Women On August 2, 2013, Maura Mena went into a Planned Parenthood location in Miami, Florida. As a pregnant woman, Maura did not know what her options were at that point and was… Read More »
Fake Interpreters in Florida
When a Sign Language interpreter gestures in gibberish, it places the lives of the members of the Deaf community at risk. This must stop, and Florida must license and regulate sign language interpreters.
Are Doctors or Hospitals Required to Provide LIVE Interpreters for Deaf Patients?
By: Matthew Dietz I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug. Modern Hippocratic Oath You can’t always get what you want You can’t always get what you want You can’t always get what you… Read More »
Katy Daniel-Rivera wins $75,000 jury verdict from Keiser University
On April 19, 2017, a jury of eight people, none of whom were deaf or knew anyone who was deaf, awarded Katy Daniel-Rivera $ 75,000 and found that she was subject to intentional discrimination based on disability because she was not provided the opportunity to enter into Keiser University’s Radiologic Technology program.