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NAD Advocates for Interpreters for United Nations Tours
By advocacy | April 1, 2008
The Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center in Midland Park, New Jersey, contacted the United Nations (UN) to arrange a tour for their deaf seniors. When the coordinator asked for a sign language interpreted tour on a particular date, the UN responded that the interpreter they had on staff would be unavailable. In addition, the UN said that, with only one interpreter, the large group would have to be split up into two smaller groups, with one group waiting while the other group completed their tour. The UN said that it did not have the funding to hire an interpreter through an outside agency. Further, the UN had a policy on its website that stated: “While sign language is not yet offered, people with hearing disabilities may obtain written information on the tour.”
Frustrated, the Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center contacted the NAD.
The NAD contacted the UN and reminded the UN of its 30-year history of promoting human rights for persons with disabilities (the UN Declaration on the Rights of Disabled Persons was enacted in 1975). As a result of the efforts of the Northwest Bergen Senior Activity Center and the NAD, the UN removed their policy from their website and now provides sign language interpreted tours in a convenient, timely fashion.
The group of seniors from Northwest Bergen enjoyed their tour of the UN. The large group was divded into two smaller groups, each with their own interpreter. They learned about the history of the UN and its current efforts, and they had a great time. Marc Charmatz, senior attorney at the NAD said, “These seniors from Northwest Bergen are great clients. The NAD was delighted that we could advocate with them to ensure that the UN is accessible to deaf and hard of hearing individuals.”
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