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 ...
I agree with you. The costs are not reasonable. But that doesnt negate what the law says.
The suit is "good" for the fact it'll force people to come up with a solution. Instead of simply never dealing with it.
since when is a drivers license your right ?
it aint but since when does being deaf or having some other difficulty shut you out of the privilege?
I'm deaf and have been driving for over 30 years. I am also very tired and don't have the time nor the energy to debate your ignorant comment at the moment. However, I will get back to you later on since I need to get up early to go out of town for a couple of days. You need a little educating, and I'm going to get back to you to challenge your ridiculous "IMHO". You'll be hearing back from me soon Jabberbonk.
The same way being blind shuts you out of the privilege of driving.
you obviously ignorant equating them as the same
Yes it does. The law says the accommodation has to be "reasonable." This is not. The "reasonable" test is included in the law. Therefore the driving instructors should not have to provide it for free. My opinion.
WHAT WAS THAT???? CAN'T HEAR YOU! KID BLASTING RAP MUSIC JUST DROVE BY!
I know they can't hear either. But that doesn't trump the point.
Deaf drivers do not "put your family at risk." No more than the "loud-stereo-hiphop-music-dude" or the "yakking-on-a-cellphone-gal."
the cost of something doesnt automatically negate having to provide accomodations.
"reasonable" is something they need to work on together.
its going to be somewhere between zero and all of it.
looks like from the article the school decided to pay for all of it. I wouldnt expect that but they did.
"How do deaf people hear warning vehicles?"
They don't. But their vehicles are required special rear view/blind spot mirrors.
Why would you respond to JABBERBONK like that? These are legitimate issues. I don't understand how a deaf person can operate a vehicle when sound is part of the warning signals of driving.
Special mirrors don't help alert to emergency vehicles approaching at intersections or turns.
What about skretching tires? Horns honking?
If you ever have the time and chance, go "listen" to deaf children sing. An experience you will not forget for the rest of your life. I promise.
I have no research or scientific studies to back up what Im suggesting but...
I'd guess deaf people are some of the most observant drivers out there.
They understand their difficulties and "train" themselves to be aware of their surroundings. I'd say they are more observant of the driving environment then 50% of the people out on the roads.
Compelled to do something that costs them thousands of dollars in exchange for revenue of hundreds.
There was an article posted a couple months ago about a public school in Chicago IIRC where drivers ed class was mandatory for all students - including the blind.
" Deaf drivers do not "put your family at risk."
Excuse but they most certainly do. I've had to follow a weaving car for miles while the two occupants talked with their hands, one of which was the driver.
because his ridiculous comment deserved an appropriate ridiculous response.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.