PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Marcela Davis, Advocate for Deaf Community
0:55:20
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161 sec
Marcela Davis, an advocate for the deaf community, testified about the need for improved technology services for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, particularly regarding LinkNYC billboards and 911 tech support. She expressed frustration with the lack of progress and emphasized the importance of visual technology and ASL accessibility.
- Criticized the unwillingness of the commissioner of technology to work with deaf advocates
- Highlighted the need for LinkNYC billboards to display information in ASL, which is considered a human right for deaf individuals
- Expressed hope for continued work on improving visual technology for the deaf community in 2024
Marcela Davis (via sign language interpreter)
0:55:20
Can you hear me?
Jennifer Gutiérrez
0:55:21
Yes.
Marcela Davis (via sign language interpreter)
0:55:22
Okay.
0:55:23
Hello.
0:55:24
Hello.
0:55:25
This is Marcela.
0:55:28
Marcela Davis speaking.
0:55:32
And I'm a representative for myself today.
0:55:39
And I'm an advocate for the deaf community at whole.
0:55:48
I'm an advocate, and I also work with the commissioner of technology than I did before.
0:55:58
I had left because they were unwilling to work with us.
0:56:06
I have not heard anything about them going through with the project operational 911 tech support for deaf and hard of hearing to make sure that there was improvement with the technology service for deaf and hard of hearing.
0:56:28
You know, we are the individuals here that would be using the link, New York, billboards, and deaf individuals that I work with that use sign language, that take classes for technology, And also the Department of Hearing Services have an ongoing agreement that ASL is the language for deaf individuals and it's their human rights.
0:57:17
When they're walking by a billboard, that they should be able to see a billboard that's displayed in their own language.
0:57:27
You know, after all, this is what we work for.
0:57:31
You know?
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We've put a lot of work and this is something that it has many components to it.
0:57:38
And often we feel forgotten.
0:57:41
And so now, it is 2024.
0:57:45
And we do hope that, we want to continue to work on this so that we can get this smoothed out technology wise and have it visual technology.
0:57:59
Thank you so much for your time.
