wew include on ourmembership application a spot to indicate special nneds..Such as wheel chair , foreign language, hearing impaired, visually impaired.. See if your school district offers ASL cpurses--if they do- see if you could borrow a student for your meetings in exchange for extra credit- we had planned on doing this for our hearing impaired parent, but he brings his wife who can hear--also our ass't prinicpal can sign a little..The suggestion of an agenda ahead of time is good, but I would recomend then posting it in the school ahead of time also so no one can claim that they are not being given this info becuase they do not have a disability..You could do the same with foreignlanguages- get one of the high school students in the appropriate langiuage to do the interpertation for extra credit..
Thanks for the excellent suggestions and moral support. I had not thought of the student/community service angle, but will check it out (as well as the other suggestions). The parent in question has asked friends to interpret for her in the past, but still keeps asking for us to put it into the budget for next year. You're right that she should take some responsibility too. It's a sticky situation, because we don't want to discourage her from participating, but at the same time we have to keep our mission in mind. And I definitely don't want to start a precedent of funding individual interpreters/aides.
I couldn't agree more with MetzyMom....On a cynical note at first glance it seems as this person is setting up for a claim of discrimination. Does the school hire an interpretuer when she comes to parent teacher conferences?? How absurd is it that a person who wants to come to meetings to help an organization also wants that organization to spend money that is made for the betterment of the children on themselves when they do not have an interpretuer with them at any other time?? I'd be careful though...I would send her an agenda each month before the meeting and let her know you will be her voice if she has something to say and that she needs to write down her suggestion/complaints and you will address them and give her a written overview of what was said. Have everything in writing...and phrase it carefully...that you truly sympathize with her hearing disablity...your group cannot afford to pay for a private person, but that you will do everything you can within your group to assist her. Good Luck!!
According to the law, you need to make Reasonable Accomodations. That does not mean paying for an interpreter. She gets around the real world with a child or a neighbor or a family member. SHE NEEDS TO BRING SOMEONE WITH HER, someone who does it for her regularly. While I am sympathetic for her situation, I too have a disability. I do expect 'Reasonable Accomodations' when a solution is unable to be provided by me. "Reasonable Accomodation" would be giving her a copy of the agenda early so that she can write out any questions or suggestions she may have. It might mean writing down anything to do with a vote, which can be done before the meeting. It could mean getting the high school to provide a student (sign language is now considered a second language) who needs community service hours. It does NOT mean paying for her very own private interpreter. If you do that, you might as well get one for the Spanish speaking parents, the Asian speaking parents, etc. Find her a "Reasonable Accomodation" and be done with it.
Hi, I've lurked in the forums for a while, but only just registered. I'm currently co-chair of our PTO and will be chair next year. Recently, we had a new member (who is deaf) ask if we could pay for an interpreter each month (@$40/hr). Are any of you in the same situation? How do you handle it? Our principal has indicated that the school will pay for an interpreter at official school-related activities, such as Distict meeting or school board meetings. He said that since our group is not officially a part of the school then we are a private group and not obligated by law to provide this interpreter. We raise approx. $12K each year and spend all but a little on the school in order to maintain a contingency fund. I want to make sure she has access to the meeting, but at the same time, the budget implications might be tough to handle. She feels that we should foot the entire bill. Help!
