Skip to main content
Stop Oppressing The Deaf!

Stop Oppressing The Deaf!

25 signatures 25 to reach 50
B
Brooke signed
A
A M. signed
L
Lucy signed
S
Someone signed
T
Todd J. signed
S
Someone signed
S
Sinh T. signed
J
John L. signed
R
rene v. signed
G
Gordon B. signed
PK
Started by Patrick Kilgallon 8 years, 2 months ago

The Office of Vocational Rehabilitation did four wrong things that hurt the Deaf Community of Pennsylvania when appointing Melissa Hawkins as the director of Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They oppressed the Deaf Community by:

  • WITHHOLDING the names of candidates from the president and members of the Pennsylvania Society for the Advancement of the Deaf for their inputs while interviewing the candidates, including the candidates must have knowledge of Deaf Culture and be skilled at American Sign Language as stated in ad’s description for position as the director of ODHH
  • IGNORING the Act 184 section 2 (b) by appointing a UNQUALIFIED candidate for the director’s position who is NOT proficient in ASL as required in the position description
  • DISRESPECTING the Deaf Community by overlooking A.S.L. as the language that allows the Deaf population be treated as equal human beings
  • VIOLATING the Disability Rights Movement’s philosophy to “free our people” by withholding information and limiting input to only the Deaf Advisory Committee, which also doesn’t know A.S.L. and Deaf Culture. The O.V.R. violated that philosophy with the first three wrongful acts

Therefore we petition the state government to demand the removal of Melissa Hawkins as the director of the O.D.H.H. and replaced with a candidate who is proficient and fluent in A.S.L., and for the Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be moved out of O.V.R. and operate independently of any other departments.

Sincerely,

Participants of The Deaf Human Rights Movement

15 Comments

P
Patrick Kilgallon · petition starter
8 years ago Featured

Keep telling other Deaf to sign this please. It is the first step to standing up for a better Deaf community. What the O.V.R. did was wrong and should not be tolerated. We need to stop being passive in PA every time an agency or an organization do something careless or wrong to hurt our language, culture or community.

A
Aris Vargas
8 years ago Featured

Kick Melissa Hawkins OUT! Because no experience deaf culture ans sign language none

L
Lucy
7 years ago

Our hands are freedom as ASL No no oppressing the Deaf

A
Anonymous
8 years ago

Hello Ohdhh I favor to want remove director Melissa Hawkin cuz require use great ASL. Because customber or co worker are deaf like see good team. like as the three company on tv commerical. 1. new deaf director 2.co/worker deaf 3.deaf customber

S
Sinh Thong
8 years ago

Melissa Hawkins was currently wrong skills her American Sign Language and the same time talking most than sign language!

R
rene valbuena
8 years ago

melissa hawins reject i am no agree with it please keep asl deaf

I
Igor Khmil
8 years ago

I requirement ASL and communication access.

S
SARAH MOULTON
8 years ago

I support this petition want see it improve for deaf community

Help this petition grow

Share it with friends to help reach 50 signatures.

Sign Petition

We never post to your account. Social sign-in is used only to verify your signature.

or sign with Email

Add a comment?

Your signature will be added via . Tell others why you're signing — it's optional.

By signing, you accept iPetitions Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Share Petition

Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact

Copy link or share directly

Instagram
QR Code