YUMA, Ariz. – Members of Yuma’s hard of hearing and deaf community rallied today asking for more assistance in our area.
It started at Yuma City Hall about 9 a.m.
Advocates and supporters held signs which read it’s their right to have interpreters.
Some, who are hard of hearing, say it’s difficult to have a job, get medical treatment, or have other services done when their unable to communicate.
“Most of the companies here in Yuma have been oppressing the deaf from what I heard. It’s really hard to get interpreters for the hospital. I was in the hospital for two weeks I had an interpreter three times and it was a very short, limited, visit with the interpreter,” says Albert Roberts, a resident of Yuma.
“It’s frustrating to be hired here, being disabled, being deaf. We want to live here. We want to call this place home but people are turning us down saying because we can’t communicate,” says Melinda Roberts.
Nearly 80 people in Yuma are hard of hearing or deaf; with only about six interpreters to help.