HRC Recommendations<\/p>\n
For Immediate Release January 14, 2009 <\/p>\n
Tuesday night, January 13, 2009, Estrus Tucker, Chair of the Fort
\nWorth Human Relations Commission (HRC), presented recommendations to
\nthe Fort Worth City Council. The recommendations, pertaining to the
\ndeaf and hard of hearing community, were adopted by the HRC on January
\n5, 2009. The recommendations, included below, were well received by
\nthe Mayor, City Manager and Council members. Members of the deaf and
\nhard of hearing community and supporters responded with applause and a
\nstanding ovation. It was exciting and uplifting. <\/p>\n
The next step is the writing of a resolution by the City Manager to
\nbe voted on by the City Council. Watch for a date and time to be
\nposted on Deafnetwork.com. Thank you for your continued support, and
\nmany thanks to the staff, commission members, supporters, and to the
\nCity of Fort Worth for making this possible. <\/p>\n
Tracey and Friends<\/p>\n
Email: tmmichol@hotmail.com <\/p>\n
RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FORT WORTH <\/p>\n
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION <\/p>\n
In an effort to eliminate alienation and discrimination and to ensure
\nthat all Fort Worth residents are treated equally, the Fort Worth
\nHuman Relations Commission recommends that: <\/p>\n
\u2022 The City of Fort Worth take steps to ensure that all City owned
\nor operated facilities are fully accessible to the deaf and hard of
\nhearing community. The Commission recommends that the City upgrade
\nteletypewriter (TTY) equipment with current technology. The Commission
\nrecommends that the City utilize Video Relay Service (VRS) in all City
\nowned or operated facilities and that training be provided to all city
\nemployees on the use of Video Relay Service in a culturally competent
\nmanner. The Commission further recommends that the City, when
\nappropriate, utilize Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services. <\/p>\n
\u2022 The City of Fort Worth update the Police department\u2019s policy
\nregarding the deaf and hard of hearing community to reflect the
\ncurrent sign interpretation services provider utilized by the
\ndepartment. The Commission recommends that the Police department
\nprovide Fort Worth police officers, cadets, and candidates with
\nadequate and up to date training on issues pertaining to the deaf and
\nhard of hearing community. The Fort Worth Human Relations Commission
\nis prepared to assist the Police department in any manner with regards
\nto the implementation of new polices\/procedures or the development of
\na new training program pertaining to deaf culture, deaf history, and
\nthe promotion of community involvement of the deaf and hard of
\nhearing. <\/p>\n
\u2022 The City of Fort Worth implement a public education program to
\ninform the deaf and hard of hearing community about the City\u2019s
\nSpecial Needs Assistance Program (SNAP), a program designed to provide
\nthe Fort Worth-Tarrant County Office of Emergency Management with
\nvital information on residents with disabilities and those who are
\ndeaf or hard of hearing, and to advise them to register with the
\nprogram. <\/p>\n
\u2022 The City of Fort Worth review its disability programs and
\nemployment policies\/procedures to maximize opportunities for the deaf
\nand hard of hearing. The Commission recommends that all job
\ndescriptions and announcements be reviewed to ensure that they do not
\ninadvertently discriminate against or discourage applications from
\npersons with disabilities or members of the deaf and hard of hearing
\ncommunity. The Commission further recommends that the City engage in
\nan affirmative recruitment process by posting employment announcements
\non websites, such as DeafNetwork.com, that service members of the deaf
\nand hard of hearing community. The Commission further recommends that
\nbilingual pay be offered to City employees trained in American Sign
\nLanguage (ASL) and that tuition reimbursement be offered to employees
\nwho want to learn ASL. <\/p>\n
\u2022 All City sponsored public meetings, including those seeking input
\nfrom residents, include a provision to notify the public that the City
\nwill, if notified at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, make
\naccommodations for persons with disabilities and the deaf and hard of
\nhearing. The provision should also include language to inform
\nresidents that if the City does not receive notification 48 hours
\nprior to the meeting, the City will make a reasonable attempt to
\nprovide the necessary accommodations. <\/p>\n
\u2022 The City ensure that all televised council, board and commission
\nmeetings are accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community by
\nproviding sign interpretive services and closed captioning for the
\nbroadcast. The Commission further recommends that the City\u2019s website
\nbe made accessible to the deaf and hard of hearing community by
\nincluding closed captioning for the website\u2019s videos and by
\nproviding ASL services online. <\/p>\n
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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…<\/p>\n