| # | First Name | Last Name | State | Country | Comments |
|---|
| 51 | Judy | Alexander | CA | US | I feel communication for all is essential. |
| 52 | Nancy | Sneed | CA | US | I'm sure it is a huge expense to provide Spanish language interpreters, but perhaps a compromise can be worked out for the requested meetings and workshops, some volunteer, some paid. Spanish is also a first language for a growing number of U.S. interpreters, and these people would appreciate the access. |
| 53 | Yolanda | Chavira | TX | US | Please make the conference accessable in Spanish. |
| 54 | Laurie | Nash | | | |
| 55 | Julie | Cross | MD | | |
| 56 | Eldora | Morris | PA | US | |
| 57 | Noreen | Hagemeyer-Guzman | MD | US | This is terrible and a slap in the face! RID needs to realize how many people are affected by this, and by doing so you have thrown out all the hard work so many people have done for RID! |
| 58 | James | Cromer | MD | US | |
| 59 | Jennifer | Burns Arntzen | MN | US | |
| 60 | Erin | Mares | NM | US | I am shocked to hear that an organization like RID would make such a statement. If this were a Deaf person trying to attend a conference where the majority of attendees were hearing, wouldn't we, as RID be outraged if this same comment was made? How dare we limit our attendance by excluding a vital language group. It is not an excuse that this is beyong the capabilities of the coordinator. |
| 61 | Mary Prater | Smith | TX | US | SHAMEFUL! Spanish is necessary. Don't discriminate. If you can't afford it, get a grant! Get someone from Texas, Arizona, or elsewhere to coordinate it for you. |
| 62 | Lisa | Gold | TX | US | |
| 63 | Jerriann | Skinner | | | |
| 64 | Francesca | Samuel | | PR | I think it is outrageous not to provide Spanish interpreting during this conference. |
| 65 | Alice | Hagemeyeer | | | |
| 66 | Jane | Whitney | | | |
| 67 | Marta | Ordaz | CA | US | Spanish Speaking population is on the rise rapidly and the needs for spanish translations are going to be in demand. please do not discontinue it. |
| 68 | Matt | Martinez | TX | US | |
| 69 | Danielle | Newman | NY | US | RID is all about following the code of ethics but then what happens with the morals? Sometimes its important to do "The right thing" I hope they don't lose sight of that. Our job is about educating those less informed and providing equal access as well as interpreting. Shouldn't we follow through with that now. Especially in a place such as San Antonio where there are so mant Spanish speaking individuals you can't tell me you can't find a Spanish - English Interpreter at the very least |
| 70 | Robert | Davila | SD | US | It is time for RID to rexamine its policy. If one deaf person is left without communication access, that is one deaf person too many! You wouldn't leave one deaf/blind person without support even if your interpreters had no experience with dual disabilities. The law guarantees access. You have to take a proactive stance on this and similar cases. You no longer have a choice. -RRD. |
| 71 | Myrelis | Aponte Samalot | | | PRRID President
We are in full support of this petition. |
| 72 | Doug | Bowen-Bailey | MN | US | If we are truly serious about being a multicultural organization, as has been the focus of many of our conferences around the nation, we need to also provide multilingual intepreting services. |
| 73 | Janice | Nishimura | VA | US | Many years ago, when society at large began focusing on cultural diversity, the RID leadership acknowledged the lack of diversity in the association and that they wanted RID to reflect the world in which we live and work. They wanted to be a kinder, gentler, more inclusive organization.
There have been strides, beginning with the creation of CDLC (Cultural Diversity in Leadership Committee). There has been an increasing awareness and efforts with respect to RID activities. At the conference in Chicago, I was overjoyed to see so many Deaf colleagues presenting and participating; my heart smiled at the richness of interpretations where the presenters and interpreters were culturally matched. This year's Region II conference was held in Puerto Rico; what a wonderful learning experience that was!
This policy excluding Spanish as an official conference language is disturbing to me on many fronts.
During the past 3 conferences, there has been INCREASING accessibility and inclusion to RID for various groups. By not acknowledging Spanish, the conference planners seem to be going back to being exclusive as to who will be made to feel welcome. I would wonder what other exclusionary practices might be put into place. I am not comfortable with the policy and the effect I know it will have.
Statistics are showing that Spanish speakers are the fastest-growing "minority" group in the U.S. We see immigration patterns and know that there are Deaf people included in those numbers. The number of requests asking for interpreters fluent in a third language (whether it's Spanish, Russian, VietNamese, etc) are increasing. By not providing Spanish interpretation, we not only exclude Spanish speaking Sign interpreters and their educators, we also deny the rest of the organization an opportunity to experience and learn more about the needs of this community. Many of us are going to run into situations, if we haven't already, where we're faced with a Spanish-speaking Deaf person.
I would like to think my organization is forward thinking and is responsive to diverse needs. I would like to think that we are not "Ugly Americans." We are a human service profession and our conferences have focused heavily on culture. I would like to think it's not just lip service.
As a person of color who's been in this field since 1973 and certified since 1975, I have been gratified and gleeful to think that with these advances towards becoming more diverse, all of us would be accepted and respected for who we were; that we didn't have to try to be majority culture and thereby deny a large part of who we are. With such a philosophy, there is a place and worth for everyone and the RID becomes stronger.
For every one who signs this petition there are untold others who will remain silent. We may or may not feel their absence in San Antonio.
I support the idea of including Spanish as an official conference language and repealing the 25 request policy. |
| 74 | Pamela | Morris | NC | US | |
| 75 | Paavo | Allen | CA | US | |
| 76 | Dragonsani | Renteria | CA | | |
| 77 | Wanda | Witczak | CA | US | I feel this action would be portrayed as oppressive and would backfire. Setting a minimum number of Spanish speaking participants as a requirement is offensive. Suppose there aren't enough deaf participants in a hearing conference to meet the requirements for ASL interpreters! It's the same idea. |
| 78 | Myisha J | Blackman | | | It would be great to have Spanish language interpreters. What a rich experience it would be. |
| 79 | "JO" Jeannette | Ocampo Welch | MA | US | |
| 80 | Lynn | Nakamoto | HI | US | |
| 81 | Pasch | McCombs | CA | US | the next conference will be in an area where Spanish is very popular. The nbr 25 is very high. What is the nbr of deaf that is required in order to provide interpreting? Puerto Rico is one of our areas -- mostly Spanish speaking. Need to advertise and get more Spanish speaking delegates. |
| 82 | haydee | fourquet | | PR | i think it is very necesary that RID could be part of the conference. im not interpreter but im learning de ASL and consider that a Spanish language interpreter is necessary in that conference. |
| 83 | Hilda | Colondres | FL | US | |
| 84 | Theresa | Heath | VA | US | Based on the information provided above, I am signing this petition. I am confused as to why this issue has even come about. I recently attended the Region II conference and was proud that we provided equal access. In an area such as Texas (with a large Spanish population) it would be embarrassing to not have this service provided. |
| 85 | keith | wann | | | Only 5 dollars extra per attendee to provide true equal access.
|
| 86 | Gloria | Munoz | WI | US | |
| 87 | Neva | Turoff | CA | US | |
| 88 | Kim | Eaton | | | |
| 89 | Lena | Serrano | CA | US | |
| 90 | Jennifer | Berman | NY | | |
| 91 | cathy | bowers | | | |
| 92 | Aaron | Rudner | | BR | Spanish interpreting will open up the conference not only to people from Spanish speaing countries, but for people from other countries for whom Spanish is a second language.
RID should consider an alternative registration fee structure to encourage participations from countries with weaker currencies. THe registration fee for the conference is more than what most Brazilian interpreters earn in a month, for example. |
| 93 | Phil | Giambaresi | NY | US | |
| 94 | Melanie | Peach | FL | US | We should have Spanish interpreters at RID conventions. |
| 95 | Lisa | Weems | MD | US | |
| 96 | Rachel | Judelson | | US | |
| 97 | Sarah | Coakley | MA | US | |
| 98 | Ruby | Mercury | | PR | |
| 99 | Angela | Piteris | NY | US | RID Member 19846 |
| 100 | Paul | Gold | TX | US | |
