Tell the LA Commission for the Deaf “ASK DEAF FIRST!”
STARTED BY Deaf Action Center of Louisiana
OVERVIEW
My name is Patty Warmack, as a person who is Deaf and the President of the
DAC, I was shocked to learn on Friday, April 1, 2011 the Betty and Leonard
Phillips Deaf Action Center of Louisiana (DAC) had lost two critical
contracts we’ve held for over 28 years. These contracts are worth $260,000
over a 3 year period and are essential for the Center to operate at our high
standards. More troubling than losing this critical funding, the northwest
Louisiana Deaf Community was not consulted and will be losing some of the
vital services it has had in the past and deserves in the future. This is a
terrible blow for a group that has worked hard to be a important and
productive part of northwest Louisiana.
The Deaf Action Center has a 30 year documented record of providing quality
interpreting and assisted listening device services throughout north
Louisiana. Without regard for that history, the current executive director
of the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (LCD) has provided limited, and in
some cases, inaccurate, information to the LCD regarding DAC’s performance.
Consequently, LCD, acting on limited time before the new state fiscal year,
awarded these contracts to another agency with very little working knowledge
of deafness, Deaf Culture, limited experience in working with the Deaf
Community and no qualified/certified interpreters.
Therefore the Deaf Action Center is asking you to consider signing this
petition to stop LCD from turning a deaf ear to north Louisiana’s Deaf and
for it to take the following actions:
1. Ask the the Deaf Community before making such an important decision.
Their opinion should be taken into consideration, regardless of the
circumstances.
2. Cease any contractual arrangements for interpreting services and
equipment distribution services with New Horizons Independent Living Center
in Shreveport, Louisiana and contract with the Betty and Leonard Phillips
Deaf Action Center of Louisiana for these services (interpreting and
assistive listening device distribution).
3. Even though the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf is not required to
solicit Requests for Proposals (RFPs); to immediately establish an RFP
process by which agencies can submit proposals to demonstrate their fitness
to provide specific services.
4. And, further, to establish an oversight committee made up of commission
members and consumers to oversee the selection, awarding, and fulfillment of
LCD contracts.
Read Petition Letter
Source: (video, too!)
http://www.change.org/petitions/tell-the-la-commission-for-the-deaf-ask-deaf-first