Deaf advocates plan 'silent protest' today at Capitol

From: Tallahassee Democrat - Tallahassee,FL,USA - Mar 21, 2007

By Jim Ash
Florida Capital Bureau Chief

TALLAHASSEE -- Advocates for the state's 3 million residents with hearing loss rally at the Capitol today to push for state benefits.

The Florida Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing plans to flood the Capitol entrance at 9:30 a.m. and hold a "silent protest" in the rotunda outside of the House and Senate chambers at 10 a.m.

Advocates are pushing for state licensure of interpreters, improved educational services, better access to emergency preparedness plans, increased use of captioning for films and television broadcasts and increased funding for direct services, according to a written release.

Other event organizers include the Florida Association for the Deaf, the Hearing Loss Association of Florida, the Florida Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, the Florida Deaf Service Center Association and the Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

©2007 Tallahassee Democrat.