HRC Recommendations
For Immediate Release January 14, 2009
Tuesday night, January 13, 2009, Estrus Tucker, Chair of the Fort
Worth Human Relations Commission (HRC), presented recommendations to
the Fort Worth City Council. The recommendations, pertaining to the
deaf and hard of hearing community, were adopted by the HRC on January
5, 2009. The recommendations, included below, were well received by
the Mayor, City Manager and Council members. Members of the deaf and
hard of hearing community and supporters responded with applause and a
standing ovation. It was exciting and uplifting.
The next step is the writing of a resolution by the City Manager to
be voted on by the City Council. Watch for a date and time to be
posted on Deafnetwork.com. Thank you for your continued support, and
many thanks to the staff, commission members, supporters, and to the
City of Fort Worth for making this possible.
Tracey and Friends
Email: [email protected]
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORT WORTH
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
In an effort to eliminate alienation and discrimination and to ensure
that all Fort Worth residents are treated equally, the Fort Worth
Human Relations Commission recommends that:
• The City of Fort Worth take steps to ensure that all City owned
or operated facilities are fully accessible to the deaf and hard of
hearing community. The Commission recommends that the City upgrade
teletypewriter (TTY) equipment with current technology. The Commission
recommends that the City utilize Video Relay Service (VRS) in all City
owned or operated facilities and that training be provided to all city
employees on the use of Video Relay Service in a culturally competent
manner. The Commission further recommends that the City, when
appropriate, utilize Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services.
• The City of Fort Worth update the Police department’s policy
regarding the deaf and hard of hearing community to reflect the
current sign interpretation services provider utilized by the
department. The Commission recommends that the Police department
provide Fort Worth police officers, cadets, and candidates with
adequate and up to date training on issues pertaining to the deaf and
hard of hearing community. The Fort Worth Human Relations Commission
is prepared to assist the Police department in any manner with regards
to the implementation of new polices/procedures or the development of
a new training program pertaining to deaf culture, deaf history, and
the promotion of community involvement of the deaf and hard of
hearing.
• The City of Fort Worth implement a public education program to
inform the deaf and hard of hearing community about the City’s
Special Needs Assistance Program (SNAP), a program designed to provide
the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Office of Emergency Management with
vital information on residents with disabilities and those who are
deaf or hard of hearing, and to advise them to register with the
program.
• The City of Fort Worth review its disability programs and
employment policies/procedures to maximize opportunities for the deaf
and hard of hearing. The Commission recommends that all job
descriptions and announcements be reviewed to ensure that they do not
inadvertently discriminate against or discourage applications from
persons with disabilities or members of the deaf and hard of hearing
community. The Commission further recommends that the City engage in
an affirmative recruitment process by posting employment announcements
on websites, such as DeafNetwork.com, that service members of the deaf
and hard of hearing community. The Commission further recommends that
bilingual pay be offered to City employees trained in American Sign
Language (ASL) and that tuition reimbursement be offered to employees
who want to learn ASL.
• All City sponsored public meetings, including those seeking input
from residents, include a provision to notify the public that the City
will, if notified at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, make
accommodations for persons with disabilities and the deaf and hard of
hearing. The provision should also include language to inform
residents that if the City does not receive notification 48 hours
prior to the meeting, the City will make a reasonable attempt to
provide the necessary accommodations.
• The City ensure that all televised council, board and commission
meetings are accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community by
providing sign interpretive services and closed captioning for the
broadcast. The Commission further recommends that the City’s website
be made accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community by
including closed captioning for the website’s videos and by
providing ASL services online.
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