#deafinprison

#DeafInPrison

[Image Description: Young white male with a black crew neck tee-shirt is seated signing to the camera. Camera caches chest up only. The wall behind the signer is faux wood.]

The Georgetown University Alternative Spring Break group with some of the Rochester HEARD volunteers. #DeafInPrison #DeafAccesstoJustice #youthadvocacy #genADA #HEARD #DeafEd (at National Technical Institute for the Deaf)

Please help amplify the Deaf Access to Justice Movement by sharing what you learn and asking others to watch.

What if you were stuck in jail with no access to an attorney because you could not make a phone call? #DeafInPrison Here is Maria's story: http://goo.gl/Tewrct [Video Abstract: woman with curly dark hair just past the shoulders wears a white polo shirt and stands in front of a white background.  Woman signs: My first experience was in Estrella Jail in Phoenix, Arizona. I needed to contact a public defender. I followed their policy, including filling out yellow written paper. Photo of stone at entrance of the Estrella Jail that says "Estrella Jail Maricopa County", caption says, Estrella Jail in Maricopa County where I was held in. Photo of sheet of inmate handbook, caption says, Inmates required to follow rules in this policy documentation. Photo highlights one section of the policy that says AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA). The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office complies with the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act as it pertains to the jail setting. Caption says Americans with Disabilities Act. The Maricopa County must respect and proceed with the guideline for deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind. Photo of enlarged portion of jail policy #3 that says: 3. Access to a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) Portable Unit: If you require the use of a TDD portable Unit, it will be made available. The calls require detention officer assistance. Submit a Request Form that explains your need. Include the name, title, and telephone number of the....[continued on next slide] Caption reads, TDD aka TTY, old electronic device for deaf inmates to communicate with lawyers and loved ones. Photo of top portion of page 30 of document called RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INMATES. [sentence from previous slide continued in this photo] person you need to contact. If a supervisor approves it, you will be allowed call on a special telephone. The call will be processed through the Arizona Relay Service. Caption states, " If a supervisor approves it, you will be allowed call on a special telephone. The call will be processed through the Arizona Relay Service." Photo with the Rules for use of the Inmate Telephone System: A. You may not make telephone calls during headcount, mealtime, or when the nurse is dispensing medications B. You will not interfere with another inmate's telephone privilege. All inmates are permitted equal access to the telephones. C. You are not allowed to request your called party to make third party or conference calls. You will be disconnected from your call and disciplinary action may be taken against you. You may lose the ability to call that telephone number. D. You are not allowed to make Directory Assistance calls, 1-800, 1-888, or 1-900 calls. Exceptions will only be made for a telephone call made through a TDD machine for the hearing impaired. E. If you want to call "SILENT WITNESS," you may do so by dialing in your IPIN followed by 0-480-948-6377. There is no charge for the call. F. When attempting to gain access to the telephone, failure to use any name, other than your given name (as booked), or booking number (IPIN), will result in the suspension of privileges. G. Do not request that the person you are talking to call you back. The Inmate Telephone System will not accept incoming calls. H. Misuse of the telephone or attempts to gain access by using a name, or booking number, other than your own will result in suspension of phone privileges. Caption reads, Rule for use of the Inmate Telephone System See letter D. Photo of yellow paper with hand-written information written by Maria Dollhopf that formally requests a legal call. Maria wrote: I am Deaf and I need to use a TDD pleas please to contact my Public Defender [name omitted]. Please as soon as possible. Thank You. [Maria's signature & receiving officer signature and date and time are visible at the bottom. Caption reads, Yellow written paper with my signature for permission to use TTY. Photo of Maricopa County Sherif's Detention Center Badge Same woman in white button-up, short sleeve collar shirt signs the following:  I was waiting and waiting for the Detention Officer and they never informed me of anything. I needed to contact my public defender and I could not. I felt so stuck. Many thanks to HEARD Advocate Maria Dollhopf for helping raise awareness about discrimination & abuse in jails and prisons across the nation by sharing some of her story & captioning the story.

Please donate ASL & English resources to support our Deaf Culture in Prison Campaign. Check out our vlog to learn how you can support our efforts to improve conditions for deaf prisoners in Louisiana & across the nation. So much in jails & prisons is not accessible for #DeafInPrison--commands from guards, auditory signals for meals, medical and mental health service providers, just to name a few. Similarly, prison libraries are filled with English & audio resources, and these libraries normally do not have any information about deaf or disability cultures. This gap in information often leads to dangerous misunderstandings between staff and prisoners who interact with deaf or disabled prisoners. HEARD is working to bridge this gap by providing resources on deaf/disability topics while also ensuring that deaf people have equal access to educational information. We have been in touch with the warden & education director at a prison in Louisiana that houses deaf prisoners & they are very interested in including these resources in their collection.  Please donate new or used resources you have to support this Campaign. Food for thought: Louisiana recently announced that it has around "2,000 hard of hearing and 38 deaf prisoners."  [video inset description: pale skinned man with dark-rimmed glasses, a goatee and a dark blue shirt sits in front of an ivory wall and signs EDUCATION]

This is video of FCC panel with TL discussing crisis surrounding #DeafInPrison & imploring the Federal Communications Commission & The United States Department of Justice to take action to ensure that our Community members in prison are provided equal access to telecom & protection as required under #ADA & #RehabAct.  Trigger Warnings for most everything. TL presentation begins around 31:20. ACCESS NOTE: terp was cut out by FCC editor. Sorry everyone. Goes to show why this is so important...sigh.