Deaf People Spoke Out And Their State Heard Them.
This is an example of effective advocacy. Congratulations, VAD and other Deaf and HoH people who have spoken up against the planned budget cuts of Mental Health Services, for the Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind consumers. MZ
UPDATE: Cuts in Mental Health Services
On October 29, 2008, NVRC News shared a letter written by the Virginia Association of the Deaf (VAD) in opposition to cuts planned in mental health services for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind services.
The letter appeared on the editorial page in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on November 6, 2008.
We are happy to report that a decision was made by the commonwealth of Virginia not to make these cuts. Kudos to VAD for bringing the proposed cuts to light and its effort to address them.
Here’s the original letter:
1016 Warwick Drive,
Staunton, VA 24401
October 25, 2008
James Reinhard, M.D.
Commissioner
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation And Substance Abuse Services
P.O. Box 1797
Richmond, VA 23218-1797
Dear Sir,
The Virginia Association of the Deaf (VAD) is aghast to learn that DMHMRSAS’s Central Office budget reduction plan has eliminated funding for interpreters, cut the state coordinator of services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing position funds in half, and eliminated funds for interpreters and CART services for meetings of the Advisory Council. Whatever happened to the department’s claim to be “available to citizens statewide”? Without access to interpreters, mental health services to deaf and hard-of hearing citizens will be effectively curtailed, and unavailable to us. This is blatant discrimination; and we are bringing this to the attention of the Office of the Governor, our state legislators and to the National Association of the Deaf Law Center.
The VAD is a cooperating member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). May we refer you to the NAD’s 2003 Position Statement Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and supplement Culturally Affirmative and Linguistically Accessible Mental Health Services. The NAD has also issued a position statement Mental Health Services for Deaf Children, 2008. These statements are available at< http://www.nad.org> and I have sent them to you separately from this faxed document.
Individuals who are deaf (including hard of hearing, late deafened, deaf-blind) are entitled to accessible mental health services in their language, preferably provided by personnel (counselors, therapists) who understand and are sensitive to their culture and disability. This is pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Indeed, DMHMRSAS has an office on “Cultural and Linguistic Competence” so how does this office plan to assure “culturally affirmative and linguistically accessible mental health services for deaf people whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL)” when funding to interpreters has been eliminated?
Furthermore, how is DMHMRSAS planning to be “responsive” to deaf members on the Advisory Council, and communicate openly with them, without services of CART and interpreters? Again, this is discrimination.
While the VAD acknowledges the need for state agencies to cut their budgets during this time of economic uncertainty and instability, we strongly protest singling out access to services by the deaf for such cuts. We are asking DMHMRSAS to reinstate funding for interpreters, the state coordinator’s position, and to make interpreter and CART services available for meetings of your Advisory Council, so all people may have access.
Sincerely yours,
Rachel Bavister
(President)
The mission of the Virginia Association of the Deaf is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Reprinted with permission by Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC)
This is an example of effective advocacy. Congratulations, VAD and other Deaf and HoH people who have spoken up against the planned budget cuts of Mental Health Services, for the Deaf, HoH, and Deaf-Blind consumers. MZ
UPDATE: Cuts in Mental Health Services
On October 29, 2008, NVRC News shared a letter written by the Virginia Association of the Deaf (VAD) in opposition to cuts planned in mental health services for deaf, hard of hearing, late-deafened and deaf-blind services.
The letter appeared on the editorial page in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on November 6, 2008.
We are happy to report that a decision was made by the commonwealth of Virginia not to make these cuts. Kudos to VAD for bringing the proposed cuts to light and its effort to address them.
Here’s the original letter:
1016 Warwick Drive,
Staunton, VA 24401
October 25, 2008
James Reinhard, M.D.
Commissioner
Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation And Substance Abuse Services
P.O. Box 1797
Richmond, VA 23218-1797
Dear Sir,
The Virginia Association of the Deaf (VAD) is aghast to learn that DMHMRSAS’s Central Office budget reduction plan has eliminated funding for interpreters, cut the state coordinator of services to the deaf and hard-of-hearing position funds in half, and eliminated funds for interpreters and CART services for meetings of the Advisory Council. Whatever happened to the department’s claim to be “available to citizens statewide”? Without access to interpreters, mental health services to deaf and hard-of hearing citizens will be effectively curtailed, and unavailable to us. This is blatant discrimination; and we are bringing this to the attention of the Office of the Governor, our state legislators and to the National Association of the Deaf Law Center.
The VAD is a cooperating member of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD). May we refer you to the NAD’s 2003 Position Statement Mental Health Services for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing and supplement Culturally Affirmative and Linguistically Accessible Mental Health Services. The NAD has also issued a position statement Mental Health Services for Deaf Children, 2008. These statements are available at< http://www.nad.org> and I have sent them to you separately from this faxed document.
Individuals who are deaf (including hard of hearing, late deafened, deaf-blind) are entitled to accessible mental health services in their language, preferably provided by personnel (counselors, therapists) who understand and are sensitive to their culture and disability. This is pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Indeed, DMHMRSAS has an office on “Cultural and Linguistic Competence” so how does this office plan to assure “culturally affirmative and linguistically accessible mental health services for deaf people whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL)” when funding to interpreters has been eliminated?
Furthermore, how is DMHMRSAS planning to be “responsive” to deaf members on the Advisory Council, and communicate openly with them, without services of CART and interpreters? Again, this is discrimination.
While the VAD acknowledges the need for state agencies to cut their budgets during this time of economic uncertainty and instability, we strongly protest singling out access to services by the deaf for such cuts. We are asking DMHMRSAS to reinstate funding for interpreters, the state coordinator’s position, and to make interpreter and CART services available for meetings of your Advisory Council, so all people may have access.
Sincerely yours,
Rachel Bavister
(President)
The mission of the Virginia Association of the Deaf is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Reprinted with permission by Northern Virginia Resource Center (NVRC)
November 12th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I am not really aware of the statewide mental health services being provided by the Commonwealth of VA.
There are poor information distribution among deaf residents and agency referrals.
For example, I just found out that there is a culturally deaf social worker at the independence center in Clarendon area few weeks ago.
I informed that deaf social worker about not many deaf people being aware of her existence to provide the social work assistances, etc.
RLM
November 12th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Hmm, now that you pointed it out, I do notice the paucity of sharing information with the Deaf Community at times. Some are not marketing their services effectively to the Deaf Community, which doesn’t make sense at all.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Here in Missouri, I was unaware of there being a counselor for the deaf available for my use for YEARS. When I finally discovered that service, it was yanked away the next month.
Kudos to the deaf advocates in Virginia! We need some of that luck over here in Missouri.
November 12th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
[...] the original post here: Deaf People Spoke Out And The State Heard Them. Categories : Mental [...]
November 12th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
Tishia,
If the center refuses to listen to the concerns of the Deaf Community, the advocates need to up the ante. Sometimes this means playing hard-nose, especially if the soft-approach isn’t successful.
As you can see, VAD first emphasizes on the state’s promises of equal treatment of the Deaf people and refers to the ADA. Then it leaves no doubt about the state’s discriminatory actions and the legal options this organization will use if the planned budget cuts are implemented.
November 12th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
That is great news! Congraluations VAD! Thanks for sharing this important news
November 12th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
This is the exactly kind of advocacy that everyone needs to do - it usually works! Hopefully VAD won’t just leave it at this, but get involved and ensure things continue and improve for the VA Deaf Community.
November 12th, 2008 at 9:23 pm
Mishka Zena
November 12th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
Hi Mishka Zena,
I left a video comment a while ago and could not see it on your blog. I was not sure whether it was moderated or not.
In case there is a glitch, the URL is http://seesmic.com/video/6qjYxWtUKt.
November 15th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Actually, Rachel Bavister (my former English teacher at VSDB) distributed the letters to Richmond Times-Dispatch, Staunton News-Leader and few other regional newspapers in the state.
That woman is brilliant. Love her to death.
R-