Deafness and being at a hospital: VICTORY

Hi all.

Well, PRHC just replied to my complaint, and they have apologized. Also, it would have been rectified already if we asked for an interpreter.

Full text of reply from PRHC:

–BEGIN

Dear Mr. Brooks,

Thank you for your e-mail regarding your December 5, 2006 visit to the Emergency Department of the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. We work hard to successfully address accessibility issues for all patients/visitors/employees. Emergency staff routinely assesses the need for an interpreter when a patient with a hearing impairment arrives. If that need was missed on this occasion we are sorry.

On review of your chart I note that there was a Stewart Homes staff member in attendance; Jane Raaymakers. Our understanding of Stewart Homes policy is that if a staff member is present he/she is there to serve as the interpreter unless they or the patient will tell us they need additional support. I found no documentation identifying a request for additional support during your visit. In addition I noted our communication with you through your Dynawriter.

I contacted Mrs. Handley to ensure the Stewart Homes policy, which has served their residents and PRHC well for some, time was still in effect. She agreed it was. Though I did not identify the source of my question as you she guessed the question arose from your recent visit, knowledge she would have through Stewart Homes. On your behalf I am willing to speak with her again about a policy review or revision if you believe their staff support does not meet the required standards.

In addition I have asked the Manager of the Emergency department to speak with the staff involved in your care that day to confirm they are clear about how to access assistance when an interpreter is required.

I hope this resolves your concern and wish you well in your ongoing recovery. If I can be of further assistance please contact me directly through this address or by phone.

Sincerely,

Maureen Condon, Coordinator Patient Relations

Peterborough Regional Health Centre

Phone (705) 743-2121 Ext 3674

Fax (705) 876-5129

END–

My reply:

–BEGIN

Kyle Brooks
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada

To whom it may concern:

Thank you for replying so promptly. I am happy that you are willing to provide a interpreter when we ask for it.

Yours sincerely,
Kyle Brooks

END–

All in all, I feel that this represents a significant victory for us Deaf people.

Rights of a Deaf person in Canada

The fundamental rights of a Deaf person in Canada are as follows:

• I have the right to a interpreter when necessary (e.g. in a hospital, in a court, blood donation, etc)
• I have the right to use sign language at school, at home and at work.
• I have the right to communicate with other people over the phone with a TTY (TeleType Writer) through a relay service that may be available in my local area.
• I have the right to serve on juries when required to by law.
• I have the same rights that all other people do in Canada under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• I have the right to access federal services.
• I have the right to be treated fairly and equally under the law and by other people.
• Finally, I implore people to recongize that being deaf is something that we are proud of, and that I am in a cultural and linguistic group of people. Our condition cannot be “fixed”.

Thanks

Kyle Brooks

Deafness and being at a hospital: More information

Hi all.

I’d like to give you all more information about the hospital problem.

First off, the hospital in question is the Peterborough Regional Health Center.

Second off, I have sent an discrimination complaint to PRHC. I have saved it, and will follow up on any replies that they give me and will p ost them up.

The full text of the discrimination complaint is below:

–BEGIN

Kyle Brooks
Peterborough, Ontario
Canada

To whom it may concern:

I am sending this e-mail to you on the basis of an concern.

I am deaf, and I require a interpreter if I am sick and need to be at the hospital.

I was admitted to the Peterborough Regional Health Center around the first to second week of December. Upon admission, I did not receive a interpreter. I feel this is unfair treatment to a Deaf person and to the Deaf community as a whole.

Please immediately rectify this and immediately apologize to me for discriminating against a Deaf person.

Sincerely,

Kyle Brooks

END –

Thanks

Kyle Brooks

Deafness and being at a hospital

Hi all.

Well, as you know, I’m deaf.

I’ll admit one thing. It sucks to be deaf, especially when you are at a hospital without an interpreter.

I went to the hospital experiencing pain in my belly a few weeks ago. I had a DynaWrite (a communication device), but the doctors didn’t even use it. Well, some did, but that is not enough. All the doctors and nurses who see me should use the DynaWrite, but not all of them did. So did it get used very much? NOPE.

So, I obviously needed a interpreter. But, I didn’t get one. Yes, I know you have to pay a interpreter, but it is worth it when you have a deaf person like me going to the hospital. I have three!

The problem is that I live in a group home, and they are not willing to hire even one interpreter for me if I go to the hospital. Why won’t they? I can’t think of any plausible reason why! But they want me to communicate in my first language, which is ASL, so they hire a interpreter sometimes. I think that is a good reason to hire a interpreter. But, they didn’t… Why not? They could have hired the interpreter just before I went to the hospital! Or even a hour, or two hours! I don’t care how longer before. Just hire the interpreter for me!

The bottom line is that communication is important, and when you can’t communicate (some is not enough like I said), you get sooooooo frustrated that you just want to shout! And you don’t want me shouting, right? So why not make it easier on me and hire a interpreter? I seriously don’t get it!

Thanks

Kyle Brooks

First post

Hi all.

Well, this is my first post to this blog. Future posts won’t have this statenent, or even a highly obvious title

First things first, I’m deaf.

I want to get one thing out to the world with my blog:

Be proud you’re Deaf

In doing so, I will try to be a civilized boy, but I can’t guarantee that I will ever be during the lifetime of this blog (which is hopefully forever)

Thanks

Kyle