Deaf UCF students say their wishes aren’t heard
School lacks full-time interpreters
Published: Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Updated: Wednesday, June 6, 2012 16:06
“Any lack of services by UCF is not on purpose,” Santiago said. “We’re a campus so big, there are a lot of issues. … I think where the trouble is is that students don’t necessarily know they can contact us. We’re not doing a good job of highlighting that.”
8 comments
Anonymous
Pamela Rea is the reason it is taking so long. She doesn't care. Students have attempted to talk to her over and over about the issue and instead of trying to solve this, she retaliates by pointing the blame on the students.
Anonymous
It sounds like the first thing that needs to be done is to start with education. Everyone needs to know...meaning every depatment in UCF as far as to what process to follow in requesting for accommodations for deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The students should not work at trying to find accommodstions for them...there should be a clesr process set so that both UCF departments and deaf and hard-of-hearing students have an easier understanding and time to request any accommodations. It is clear to me that some changes needed to be made a long time ago. What I want to know is...Why is it taking so long?
Anonymous
How many times is the excuse going to be made that "Any lack of services is not done on purpose"? Stop making excuses! I can see if this was a one time occurance or something being overlooked but the accessiblity for deaf students are either being denied or not being provided at all...this is NOT AN EXCUSE! Something needs to be done so that deaf or hard of hearing individuals have a seemless college experience just like any other person that can hear. Having a full time staff interpreter or even two would be a start to resolve many problems in providing accomodations to deaf or hard of hearing individuals. Stop making excuses UCF! Do something to make changes!
Anonymous
I agree with the other comments. To be honest, the Student Disability Services, no offense is totally disorganized. It is of great irony that the SDS is led by a certified sign language interpreter yet hasn't been an advocate for deaf students. I was denied many services at UCF because many departments had no idea that they had to provide me with an interpreter and was improperly trained. I have brought these concerns to the administration to no avail. UCF has heard from us plenty, but has done nothing. I think it is time for a change like others have commented in previous posts. We must overcome audism and give every student regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation or religion a fair opportunity to succeed at UCF. I agree with Professor Hurdich that some form of centralizing services must occur. We are all Knights regardless of whom we are. UCF administration, it is time for a change.
Anonymous
I used to attend UCF, these problems are nothing new. I was unable to get an interpreter for many university activities outside of the classroom. I have filed several complaint to "deaf" ears (no puns intended). The university demonstrates a lack of ignorance when it comes to compliance for deaf and hard of hearing students. I remember many days when my hearing friends went to many fun events on campus yet I am unable to enjoy those equally. If UCF stands for opportunity, clearly UCF stands for roadblocks for me. I wouldn't be surprised if a class-action lawsuit was brought against the university in the near future. Sign me up!
Anonymous
I visited UCF last year to visit a hearing friend of mine, she invited me to watch a show. She contacted the Student Disability Services to set up an interpreter. They told my friend to contact the theatre department. The department informed my friends that they had no funds. My friend was given the runaround. At the end of the day, I never got to see the show and my friend firsthand experienced how troubling lack of services of UCF is for deaf visitors like myself.
Anonymous
I remembered one time when I visited UCF as a potential graduate student. I contacted the Office of Graduate Admissions to set up an interpreter, they informed me that I would need to bring my own interpreter. I was floored that the "interface" of the university was totally clueless of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). I contacted the university's ADA compliance officer and got several apology letters subsequently but it does speak volumes of the attitude and services that an university wants to provide. I decided to take my academics and business to another Florida's state university that provided services without a glitch. UCF has ignored the needs of Deaf/Hard of Hearing students for way too long and something needs to be fixed quickly. I would hate to see a great university like UCF to be be stuck in a nasty lawsuit with the U.S. Department of Justice who oversees federal enforcement of disability related issues. It is time, UCF to "wake up" and make changes.
Anonymous
Even as a hearing student, I noticed the lack of accessibility on campus. I remember one of the open forums with the UCF president where they failed to provide an interpreter that had been requested days before. A UCF administrator informed the other ASL club members and I of this by walking up to a group of us who were chatting (signing) before the event, and asked "can any of you talk?" She then explained that they didn't have an interpreter and asked me to do it. I was a student in my second ASL course at the time. Wrong and inappropriate in so many ways!
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