I was checking out DeafRead Blogs, and came across this blog post: Bring my own interpreter??!!.
I do sympathise with this situation; it happens a lot to many RAD clients. We’ve had requests to “bring your own interpreter” by GPs, employers, courts, hospitals etc. I’ve been racking my brains to determine whether it’s happened to me personally yet. I don’t think it has.
Why is it, that when there is high-profile legislation in place, such as the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 in the UK, and the Americans With Disabilities Act in the USA, there are still people and organisations that are so blase about these things. How the hell do they think they can get away with doing stuff like that?
It boggles the mind. The sad thing is, this post didn’t surprise me. Am I cynical?
The answer to your question is quite simple,
1)disabled people do not know their rights.
2)disabled people feel that they have already caused enough trouble because of their dependency on others and are unwilling to demand their rights and cause more trouble.
3)they feel they are not well enough to do something about it.
4)it is likely to cost them money they do not have.
Some of the above points raised are not correct but after speaking to many people about it, these are broadly my findings. This is partly why the Disability Equality Duty has been passed, to enable disabled people to feel that they have a greater role to play and that they are not a burden to society.