Mentions of abuse
As of yesterday, Florida is no longer allowing interpreters of any kind when someone takes a driver’s test (this includes the written portion and the driving portion).
They’re requiring all tests be taken in English.
Not only is this complete discrimination against people who read and speak spoken languages that are not English, it’s also complete discrimination against people whose primary language are neither spoken nor English. Like people who communicate mostly or entirely in American Sign Language.
Not allowing interpreters during the written portion is still awful in the context of people who use ASL because not every deaf person’s first language is English. ASL and English are not the same language at all and ASL is not a written language. Just because someone uses ASL does not automatically mean they can read English.
This new rule or whatever makes it more likely disabled people can’t drive and won’t be in public. This independence being taken away also means we [disabled people] have to rely on other people for things we need. This can lead to disabled people being abused. It also makes it a lot more difficult for disabled people to leave if we are being abused.
And, yes, this is illegal. A lot of discriminaion that’s technically illegal - and has been for decades - happens all the time.
All in all, this harms a lot of people and should be talked about and taken seriously.
