The Department of Communication is currently taking strides to accommodate those who are deaf and hard of hearing by inviting sign language interpreters to all of their public events.
So far, there have been two events where a sign language interpreter was present – during Holocaust survivor Magda Brown’s event and at the Jessica Yellin Robison Lecture.
Department of Communication chair Paul Gullifor said the idea of inviting interpreters to public events stemmed from President Gary Roberts and his objectives for the university.
“In the Fall Faculty Assembly back in August, President Roberts was outlining his goals, and he mentioned as one of them a needed commitment to the Americans with Disabilities Act and how that would be a focus in the coming academic year,”
Gullifor said.
Gullifor said inviting interpreters to the department’s events was also an appropriate response to basic courtesy.
“I think [inviting sign language interpreters] does show, in a very public way, a commitment to the president’s mission, but also to the need to be sensitive and aware that not everybody has equal access to these events,” Gullifor said. “And it’s the right thing to do.”
Gullifor said the idea to invite sign language interpreters to public events came from administration supporter Jolene Cole after they were talking about the events coming up for the year.
According to Cole, the Magda Brown event was her inspiration to take action. She said she knew there would be deaf and people who are hard of hearing in attendance who did not have equal access. She said she first reached out to the American Sign Language club on campus, but was unable to get an interpreter through them.
Cole then reached out to Advocates for Access, a non-profit organization in Peoria that serves people with disabilities, as well as provides assistance to people with disabilities. The organization then sent an interpreter out for the event.
Junior public relations major Logan Dowell attended the Magda Brown event and thought the inclusion of an interpreter was a great step toward making the campus more accessible.
Dowell said she has been learning American Sign Language since earlier this year and considers herself an advocate for people who are disabled.
“It was something that I was super excited about because it’s really important for people to be able to hear [Magda Brown’s] story, and with having ASL interpreters at lectures or events like that, there’s not that communication barrier,” Dowell said.
Gullifor said the Department of Communication plans on inviting interpreters to all of this year’s events.
