Happy Labor Day Deaf Workers!
You all set a very fine example for other Deaf people to follow. You are role models in the Deaf community.
It don't matter what you do,
YOU ARE OUR HEROES!
America needs more Deaf workers. America can acquire more Deaf workers by being more vigilant in their enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was signed in 1990. Once the Deaf community sees that ADA is being vigorously enforced, they will feel more secure and confident and become workers.
The past 15 years, the entire disability community has seen their employers find ways to get around ADA. We're also seeing federal judges become increasingly restrictive in dealing with ADA lawsuits. We're even seeing one of our supposedly trusty guardians, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), behave amnesic when we try to explain our cases to them. The same thing goes on for employers who hire vicious lawyers to defend themselves against ADA lawsuits by twisting the facts around and manipulating the law itself beyond recognizance. Finally there is no safety net for disability plaintiffs who lose their ADA cases. When they lose, they lose a lot more than just their cases. They're losing cars, homes, credit rating...EVERYTHING... for just trying to enforce ADA. Scary, isn't it?
Basically, the long road to fairness at the workplace remains unpaved and peppered with hazards. Each victory on our behalf amounts to a tiny slice of this road being paved. Then there's the possibility of our victories being nullified or overturned in future cases. We will step back a little however getting this strip back will be easier in the future because it has been paved.
Deaf workers all share a common victory which is being role models for the Deaf community. They are also our pioneers. We must support our Deaf workers and Deaf pioneers REGARDLESS of their economic status. They all reinforce the statement "Deaf People Can Do Anything Except Hear" made by I. King Jordan, Former President of Gallaudet University. Deaf workers and pioneers all set examples for us to follow.
To the Deaf workers of America, this is your day and THANK YOU!
Richard Roehm
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