Quote:
Originally Posted by golfing eagles
Actually, the doctor's office is REQUIRED by ADA to offer an ASL interpreter. I had one totally deaf patient for 30 years, very nice woman. Office fee was usually $70, interpreter including travel time was $200. Seems unfair, but childless couples pay school taxes, law abiding citizens pay for prisons, and your cell phone bill has a surcharge for people who DON'T pay their bill. Sometimes life isn't fair, but I wouldn't want to trade places with her.
|
I have been profoundly deaf since birth so I can speak with credibility.
This is one misconception most common ...all deafies are the same which is most certainly not true at all.
Some can speak, some cannot. Some can lip-read, some cannot. Some are educated, some are not. Some can benefit from hearing aids or cochlear implants, some cannot. Some are nice, some are not. Some have excellent coping skills, some do not. We come in all kinds, shapes, forms, and degrees just as you do.
Because I had interpreting services, I was able to obtain a paralegal certificate with all As and was a tax producer for years until I retired. Better this than be a tax consumer, uh?
I myself do not need an interpreter when I have routine medical appointments because I know what to expect. However if I have a medical situation with which I am totally unfamiliar, then I do need interpreting services so there won't be any misunderstandings. Medical service personnel appreciate this because they certainly do not want to be sued if something goes wrong.
I can hardly wait for the day when technology has improved to the point that we won't need to be so dependent on interpreting services anymore. But until then, we are crippled by this need.