Deaf Grassroots Movement Rally at RI State House

<i><b>Deaf News: Deaf Grassroots Movement supporters rally at the Rhode Island State House.</b></i><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-rally-at-ri.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Deaf Grassroots Movement at the Rhode Island State House"><img height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8S0GMVUIXXFT-un3l8mvkpU9LvheWAn84pfxV9FXhs329sDY-tdIJMPhBYOt0jo697EUTxjbeLx9diBD-vjDX17MVFoU8kMHhvUGcevTFb3khOftrD3oUYqOAgnAeiz8cQ8OluazokG3/s320/deaf-grassroots-movement-rhode-island-state-house.jpg" width="300" /></a>PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence Journal: About 80 people, most of them <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hearing_loss" target="_blank">Deaf</a> and wearing bright green T-shirts that illustrated the sign language for "equality," followed by the word "now!" rallied at the State House on Wednesday.<br /><br /><br /><br />The rally was one of 50 all-day rallies taking place around the country in the <a href="http://www.tdgm2015.org/" target="_blank">Deaf Grassroots Movement</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />The DGM aims to fight for the rights of the Deaf and future generations in the <a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/search/label/Deaf%20Grassroots%20Movement">Deaf community in all 50 states</a>. On Wednesday all 50 state capitols will have a rally for Deaf Rights, including <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island" target="_blank">Providence, Rhode Island</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SVL5o94L7Jo" width="500"></iframe></div><br /><br />Some of those wearing the green shirts, which listed the movement's five goals on the back - education, jobs, language rights, equal accessibility and communication access were supporters of a Deaf person, and some in their own matching black T-shirts were members of an interpreters group.<br /><br /><br /><br />Governor Raimondo's outreach manager, David Allard, listened to the spoken interpretation as each speaker signed to the group. When Allard spoke, a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Language_interpretation#Sign_language" target="_blank">sign-language interpreter</a> stood beside him to sign his statement that the governor is committed to creating opportunities for all <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island" target="_blank">Rhode Islanders</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br />Jill DeCosta, 53, of Smithfield, was one of the organizers and spoke of feeling invisible at her job in the <a href="https://www.courts.ri.gov/Courts/FamilyCourt/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Rhode Island Family Court</a> because she is excluded from meetings and conferences for lack of an interpreter.<br /><br /><br /><br />She said that nationwide, 72 percent of Deaf people are unemployed, and that in Rhode Island, the <a href="http://www.ors.state.ri.us/" target="_blank">Office of Rehabilitation Services</a> has had a Deaf services position go unfilled for months.<br /><br /><br /><br />Instead of clapping, the Deaf-Friendly crowd applauded each speaker by fluttering their hands in the air.<br /><br /><br /><br />A class from the <a href="http://www.rideaf.net/" target="_blank">Rhode Island School for the Deaf</a> attended.<br /><br /><br /><br />Charley Thorn, 32, of Chepachet, who is Deaf and who works as an interpreter for the Deaf, repeated each speaker's sign language directly to a woman who who is Deaf as well as legally blind.<br /><br /><br /><br />He said later, through an interpreter, that he appreciated the chance to let "our voice be heard."<br /><br /><br /><br />"All we want to do is have equality with communication," he said.<br /><br /><br /><br />Doctor's offices and hospitals often do not provide an interpreter for a Deaf person, attendees said, nor are interpreters provided for a Deaf applicant at a job interview. In both cases, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americans_with_Disabilities_Act_of_1990" target="_blank">Americans with Disabilities Act</a> requires that an interpreter be provided.<br /><br /><br /><br />Rhode Island doesn't have enough interpreters and lacks an interpreter training program, said Steven Florio, executive director of the R.I. Commission on the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.providencejournal.com/article/20160504/NEWS/160509720" target="_blank">SOURCE</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Follow Deaf Grassroots Movement on Social Media:</b><br /><br />Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Deaf-Grassroots-Movement-DGM-799439450175504/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/events/deafgrassrootsmovement</a><br /><br />Official Website - <a href="http://www.tdgm2015.org/" target="_blank">http://www.tdgm2015.org</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Deaf Grassroots Movement Hastags:</b><br /><br />Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/dgm" target="_blank">https://facebook.com/hashtag/dgm</a><br /><br />Instagram - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/dgm/" target="_blank">https://instagram.com/explore/tags/dgm</a><br /><br />Twitter - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/dgm" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/hashtag/dgm</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><b>Related Deaf Protest:</b><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/03/deaf-grassroots-movement-national-deaf.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement - National Deaf Rally</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-nationwide.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement Nationwide Rally</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-alaskans-rally-for-equality-in.html">Deaf Alaskans Rally For Equality In Anchorage</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-alabama.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Alabama Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-oklahoma.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Oklahoma Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-nebraska.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Nebraska Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-maine-state.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Maine State Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-florida.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Florida State Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-rally-at-ri.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement Rally at RI State House</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-grassroots-movement-at-idaho-state.html">Deaf Grassroots Movement at Idaho State House</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-advocates-at-north-dakota-state.html">Deaf Advocates at the North Dakota State Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-advocates-at-massachusetts-state.html">Deaf Advocates at the Massachusetts State House</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2016/05/deaf-rallies-at-connecticut-state.html">Deaf Rallies at the Connecticut State Capitol</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2015/08/deaf-protest-at-white-house-in.html">Deaf Protest at White House in Washington DC</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2015/09/deaf-protest-at-white-house-2015-live.html">Deaf Protest At The White House 2015 Live Video</a><br /><br /><a href="http://deafyouvideo.blogspot.com/2015/09/deaf-power-of-india-fight-for-your.html">Deaf Power Of India: Fight For Your Rights!</a>

Deaf Grassroots Movement Rally at RI State House

Deaf News: Deaf Grassroots Movement supporters rally at the Rhode Island State House. PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Providence Journal: About 80 p...

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