State Panel Hears Pleas From Deaf Eastern Counties Only District With Rise In Rights Complaints

The deaf made themselves heard.

“Being deaf, without sound, is a very negative experience,” Char Donald of Spokane said Thursday through an interpreter. “We have experienced blatant discrimination and denial of our rights here in Spokane.”

Donald was one of five deaf or hearing-impaired people who came to the monthly meeting of the Washington State Human Rights Commission.

The gathering at the downtown Spokane library addressed human and civil rights issues affecting people in the area.

Of the more than 30 people who showed up, Donald’s group was most outspoken. Most of the 90-minute meeting was spent discussing housing, employment and other issues that affect the deaf community.

The meeting, which was supposed to start at 7 p.m., was delayed by half an hour because an interpreter wasn’t scheduled to arrive until 7:30 p.m., the official start of the roundtable discussion.

“The five deaf people here feel left out,” complained Margaret Pitts, a deaf woman who protested when commissioners started talking shortly after 7 p.m.

Valerie Davis, who is hearing-impaired, spoke of discrimination in applying for jobs.

“You’re wasting my time,” they would tell her. No one would hire her. Some people didn’t even call her back after they realized she had problems hearing, she said.

“I have no opportunity anymore,” Davis told commissioners, her voice rising in anger. “I’m really frustrated.”

The meeting also addressed human rights complaints in the Spokane area. In the year ending June 30, 132 complaints were filed, compared to 109 the previous year. That’s a 21 percent increase.

District 4 - which includes Spokane, Asotin, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens and Whitman counties - was the only one in Washington state to experience an increase, said Susan Berry, the commission’s regional manager.

Offices in Seattle, Yakima and Olympia received fewer human rights complaints this year than last.

Berry’s office receives 150 to 200 calls a month, she said, resulting in five to 10 new complaints.

The numbers don’t necessarily mean there’s more discrimination, Berry said.

“People are beginning to be aware of the law,” she said. “They’re finding out about the commission. We’re seeing increased awareness.”

Discrimination based on disability was most prominent in the region this year, followed by sex and race, statistics show. Most of the complaints had to do with employment.

Attending Thursday’s meeting was Vince Lemus, chair of the Spokane Human Rights Commission. He urged the panel to continue listening to the concerns of the poor, elderly, people of color and others who face discrimination.

Most of all, he spoke for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Spokane - individuals who are often not protected by the laws, he said.

“I sympathize with the deaf community,” said Eileen Thomas, an African-American and local activist, whose words were greeted with nods and cheers of agreement.

“I know how you feel. Spokane is prejudiced.”

, DataTimes