So I’m sure a lot of us are used to ignorance by other people. And it’s not just because we’re deaf; we also deal with ignorance due to race, sexual preferences, gender, etc. Everyone deals with ignorance. Not just certain people.
But what I dealt with on Saturday night wasn’t ignorance. It was his preference.
I showed up at the Goo Goo Dolls/Counting Crows concert only to find that, while my seat was perfectly located, but the interpreters were not. They were way over in the corner over on the left side of the arena. I looked at my seat, at my friend, at the stage, and at the interpreters.
Uh, how am I supposed to see both the interpreters and the show?! I saw a security guy standing right in front of the spot that I thought was meant for the interpreters. I asked him why the interpreters were standing over there.
He kindly explained to me, as per Adam Duritz’s (lead singer of Counting Crows) request, he asks interpreters to be out of his sight line because “the light bothers him.” Apparently, Adam Duritz requests this at every show he performs.
It’s one small light. Not even that bright. (Now, if it were a spot light, like at GMU concerts, that I’d understand. Even I was embarrased by the idea of a big bold spotlight.) But it was a small reading light. I explained to the guy that I’m not only deaf, but i also have limited vision. I specifically explained to the lady over the phone when I first ordered the tickets.
He couldn’t do anything. I was aghast. It wasn’t helping that I was already frustrated with traffic and, what was worse, the Goo Goo Dolls were coming on stage in a few minutes. I just wanted to enjoy the concert and not have to strain to see the interpreters. Luckily the interpreters talked him into letting them move back, at least just for the Goo Goo Dolls part.
One of them talked with the security guy explaining that I do have two limitations, not just deaf. So he went ahead and talked with Adam Duritz. Half way through the Goo Goo Dolls performance, the guy came back and flipped the light down even more than it already was. Adam approved, saying it was fine if they stayed there.
No way was this ignorance because he requests this at every show. Now, I’d really understand if it was a spotlight and you could see it thorughout the whole performance. But I’m almost certain when he was standing on that stage, he had no clue that the interpreters and I were there because the light was that small. Plus, there were people in front of the interpreters, so I don’t think he saw us at all.
I really don’t think he should be as picky as how the crowd is set up because we’re the ones who pay money to see him, not the other way around. I’m just glad i got to stay where I was and the interpreters were right in front of me.
On the other hand, the Goo Goo Dolls really rocked it. Definitely love their new album and it was great when they played stuff from Dizzy Up the Girl. Too sweet!
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Do you know if most arenas use spotlights for interpreters? Maybe, if spotlights are used far more commonly than reading lights, Duritz automatically assumes that it’s going to be a spotlight?
Still, his attitude–requesting that interpreter lights be turned off–shows a real lack of respect towards his audience. He forgets who is paying his bills.
Kudos to you for standing up and making the interpreters move back over this lame rock star’s objections. Whoo!
Having worked at a lot of venues around the area, I think I can comment.
I’ve worked at Nissan Pavilion for 8 seasons, and I’ve never seen an artist request that the interpreters move due to the light. The interpreters get a music stand light, which gives about 100 watts of illumination. Generally a lead singer will have at least two 2000 watt spotlights focused on him/her at all times…I have no clue why anyone would be bothered by a measly stand light. Plus, with all the aisle lights and other safety lights, who would notice?
I want to say that Verizon Center (formerly MCI Center) and Patriot Center both use low-wattage music stand lights, but I’m can’t quite remember. The most light I’ve ever seen is at Wolf Trap, where there are four theatrical lights focused on the interpreter, but they are never so bright as to detract from the stage.
Maybe Adam Duritz once had a bad experience with bad lighting, but I believe most venues are tasteful in their interpreter lighting, and Mr. Duritz was just out of line.
As for the following discussion that interpreters may be interfereing with the program, here’s one entertainment professional and hearing person saying that they’re not. I think the selected seating sections are great…yes, they’re usually a off to the side, but the interpreter and the performers are within the same line of sight. The location seems to be considerate of all patrons.
Some groups actually enjoy sharing a stage with an interpreter. The Steve Miller Band came to Wolf Trap last week, and at least two different band members walked right up to the interpreter to include them in their performance. (It was great.)
And some hearing people just enjoy seeing interpreted performances. I do.
I definitely agree with LM, most of the time I don’t think the performers are bothered by the lights. I do think Adam Durtiz must’ve had a bad experience, and he was out of line. But I’m glad he was able to come to a compromise.
He ought to be EATING crows! :-)
Hearing people are paying his bills. One deaf girl is not. Sorry, but money talks and bullsh*t walks. You could always ask Paul Singleton to file another lawsuit for you.
Or you could say that the interpreters are for the hearing singers so they can reach as wide an audience and make as much money as possible. One deaf girl is not paying his “bills” but she’s certainly paying for a ticket. *rolling eyes*
What lawsuit did Paul Singleton file? Does anyone know?
another case of deafism. Fight the deafists.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF), a national law & policy center based in Berkeley, CA developed their own ADA manual and they had a brief illustration of a deaf person who requested to have a spotlight to view the interpreter inside a planetarium. They would not be required to do that “if it would prevent the audience from seeing the representation of the night sky created on the ceiling above” - resulting in a fundamental alteration of the program. I’m not sure if that is the case here, but it also states that it “may not fundamentally interfere with the program to have one interpreter was lighted in the corner of the room.”
So, this is very similar to this case. It’s difficult to prove that the spotlight will interfere with the performance because you’re not even allowed to test it on the stage. So, the management would probably need to modify their policies & practices by assigning a special seating location for deaf/HH guests and have assigned interpreters to be in front of them.
Besides, this happens frequently. You have no idea how many work-related conferences I had to attend and they refused to have the interpreters stand next to the speakers and they demand them to be put at the edge of the stage where there’s no illumination at all.
I think that’s how it works most of the time - providing the minimal access - not denying you access, but asking for slightly more is considered too demanding. But, don’t stop fighting, kid.
That’s why the access model doesn’t work. We need hearing people to start taking ownership of their own communication. I for one would like one of them to realize the interpreters are there so they can get their message across to all people - including but not limited to Deaf people. Without interpreters there’s individuals and populations the speaker wants to reach but can’t.
Unfortunately, I doubt most hearing people would care about reaching out to the D/deaf. They only care when their pocketbook takes a hit… Then they’ll provide services/access to us.
They would care more if D/deaf people gave something back. You get what you give. Since the perception, right or wrong, is that of taking, taking, taking (and I’m talking about SSDI here)… it’s a cost benefit analysis. The benefits don’t justify the cost. For example, the UBIDUO coming out pays for itself, practically. Yet almost every D/deaf person being polled said they would not use it in exchange for less interpreter services, meanwhile interpreters are becoming more and more prohibitively expensive. Now, isn’t that the least bit selfish? How do you justify that bottom line to your employers when they ask you why should they keep paying out the nose for interpreter requests when the UBI will do just fine for one on one communication? The emperor has no clothes (your english stinks)? Keep in mind the ADA and 508 does not say interpreters MUST be provided, in specific especially the ADA, but instead a reasonable accommodation must be made. Survival of the fittest. Those organisms who cannot adapt, perish.
Actually, you make a valid point. Our over-reliance on interpreters really has to go. I’ve always wanted to blog on how harmful intepreters are to our deaf community; instead of bridging our two worlds, they create further division.
And as for what constitutes a ‘reasonable’ accommodation, does one ever argue that being forced to use English (through whatever technological device made available) impedes their “right” to use ASL? I can think of much better arguments than this, obviously, but was just curious if anybody has ever tried using that excuse?
Planetarium case is an interesting one. I’ll have to dig that one up. Goes to show that accessibility can only go so far - in other words, it needs to pass the reasonableness test. Thanks for sharing!
What exactly is the reasonableness test? Sorry, I’m not up-to-date with legal research on ADA.
It’s actually more of a lingo - not a specific test or procedure -that is used to determine the reasonableness of the accommodations requested.
But, according to section 4.2100 of the Title III Technical Assistance Manual of the ADA (www.ada.gov/taman3.html#III-4.2000), it states that “a public accommodation must reasonably modify its policies, practices, or procedures to avoid discrimination. If the public accommodation can demonstrate that a modification would fundamentally alter the nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations it provides, it is not required to make the modification.” To elaborate, the definition of a “fundamental alteration” is “a modification that is so significant that it alters the essential nature of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, or accommodations offered.” So….
Cloak And Dagger, I’m curious if that was amended because of Clint Eastwoods lawsuit (his restaurant in Carmel, CA - he didn’t want to put in a wheelchair ramp for the place because he’d basically have to renovate the entire building, and he felt the ADA harmed small businesses because they had to pay for any compliance actions out of their own pocket)
Not sure if that was because of his restaurant. But, from the same manual, it states that public accommodations are required to “remove barriers that are readily achievable”. It explains that owners are required to remove any barriers that are not too difficult or expensive to do. So, I don’t know where the ramp is located, but if it is outside to connect the parking lot to the entrance, then that is considered readily achievable. Besides, small businesses can receive a tax break on this from the IRS anyway.
Why not the deaf person just ask for the transcript for the plantaerium? That would be much easier to deal with the existing situation.
Some deaf people prefer the live interpreter in ASL. I would not blame them at all.
Paul Singleton used to be the Communication Arts professor at Gallaudet. I enjoyed his classes so much. Some students depised him because of his eccrenticies.
My understanding is that Dr. Paul Singleton was a major asset to the IKJ adminstration for his legal brillance (former ACLU lawyer). Singleton often got the worst evaluation ratings for his professorship, but still remained on the faculty payroll. Admittely, Singleton was very incomptent signer (hearing himself) and introveted person. He usually gave almost all the students “failing grades” which weren’t their own faults.
I happened to be very knowledgeable as an avid reader of current events and related books. I never had any problems following his classes.
Singelton never understood my pure ASL. I had to rely upon another hearing classmate (Gallaudet staff herself) to help me out what I said in the class.
The handful of students got very upset with Singleton’s constant shooting photos of students in the class. Singelton claimed that he need photos to help remembering whose students for grading on their papers. Others called him “necrophobilia”.
What the heck?
1) There’s nothing wrong with being introverted. I for one, am introverted, and I consider myself fairly successful in life!
2) The students called him a necrophiliac - lover of dead bodies - because he wanted to take pictures of students? That doesn’t make sense! *boggles*
This is for RLM’s comment. Obviously RLM got confused with identification of two different individuals. The person he described was Paul SIEGEL- not SINGLETON.
Thanks for the correction, AKD! Yes, I did get confused with Paul Siegel and Paul Singleton.
I still am not sure whether I really know Paul Singleton in person or make acquaintance with him in the past. Is this person deaf himself?
RLM
Sue Adam Duritz and venue asses off. I saw the band before when they opened for The Who. God, they suck.
I actually met Adam Duritz at a Counting Crows concert at my college. He was pretty surprised that I, a deaf student with a CI, would be attending his concert. We chatted for a bit about my deafness, and how my CI worked. He seemed nice back then.
I hope you didn’t bash sign language or interpreting when talking about your CI. A lot of hearing people seem to get the idea that with a CI, deaf people don’t need to learn sign language.
Ah,yes, I’ve experienced similar incidents at various concerts. In fact, at a Wicked performance this summer, a group of us ended up being seated halfway up the theatre and we were supposed to be able to understand the interpreters way down to the right of the stage. NOT. We received a full refund.
Make me cry.
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