Ashley Antonelli, 19, left, and Heather Breitbach, 16, are among the five plaintiffs.
Posted on 04/05/2006 8:13:50 PM PDT by wallcrawlr
ST. CLOUD -The big smile on Heather Breitbach's face gave away her news. The 16-year-old had passed the written portion of her driving test Tuesday, the first step in getting her learner's permit.
"I finally did it!" she said in sign language to friends and family members.
Most teenagers take getting a driver's license for granted. But for Heather, of Melrose, Minn., who is deaf, it has already taken a year and cost her family several thousand dollars in costs for an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. Hours of behind-the-wheel training still await.
Breitbach and her family don't think it's fair that they must pay for the interpreter.
Along with four other deaf teenagers, they filed suit in U.S. District Court last week.
< snip >
The U.S. Department of Justice settled a similar case against a Wisconsin driving school in 1999. In that case, Wold Driving School of Wausau was found in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and ordered to reimburse a deaf student for interpreter costs.
< snip >
...since the suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis, both schools say they have agreed to cover interpreter costs.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Deaf/Hard of Hearing ping list
with interests in health and society
"The schools, one of which is owned by St. Cloud's mayor...."
Ah...the proverbial can-o-worms!
Essentially, the driving school could be compelled to pay for the privilege of teaching a deaf kid to drive.
Well, at least this bunch isn't going to be trying to drive with cell phones wedged into their ears. (I hope they have enough sense not to try texting.)
If only she spoke spanish, it would have been free : )
I'd say I'm speechless but that may be construed as being rude.
How do deaf people hear warning vehicles?
Way back when I was a little girl (stone age times), scouts taught everyone sign.
How does someone deaf know when a person is beeping at them? This is very interesting.
No but they will use a SideKick!
Umm. . how does the hearing kid who is playing rap crap music so loud that my car is shaking from 100 yards away hear emergency vehicles?
Food for thought :)
:D
As I say...I hope they're smart enough not to try to work the keyboard and drive!
Deaf people don't hear emergency vehicles, not horns, nor rail road crossing bells...why? beacuse they are deaf. Oh and IMHO have no business being behind the wheel of a car putting my family members at risk!
"compelled" to follow the law?
misnomer. many deaf people speak.
I'm sure you knew that but couldnt pass up the chance for a bit of clever humor.
I understand.
Ive texted while driving.
But yeah, I agree...keeping every/all distractions away from kids while driving is a good thing. Hopefully they figure that out too.
Since the law only compels them to provide "reasonable" accommodation for their disability, I would think that paying an interpreter 10x the money they will get from the lesson fee would be unreasonable. But that's just me.
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