President Biden is implementing something that will help the hard of hearing and deaf for the first time.
The White House will include an American Sign Language interpreter at all briefings, Press Secretary Jen Psaki revealed on Monday (January 25).
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“As a part of this administration’s accessibility and inclusion efforts, starting today we will have an ASL, an American Sign Language interpreter, for our daily press briefings,” she explained.
“The president is committed to building an America that is more inclusive, more just and more accessible for every American, including Americans with disabilities and their families.”
An ASL interpreter named Heather joined Monday’s virtual briefing.
The interpreters will be seen in-frame moving forward with briefings.
The National Association for the Deaf sued the Trump administration over its refusal to provide ASL interpreters for any COVID-19-related press briefings. There are approximately 11.5 million people with hearing disabilities in the United States.
The Trump White House did not comply with requests from lawmakers, a federal disability agency and the nation’s oldest civil rights organization asking for ASL interpreters. A court eventually ordered the White House to provide ASL interpreters at all COVID-19 briefings.
“There is more work to be done, but this is a great day for inclusion and access for the deaf and hard of hearing community,” the NAD said in a statement.
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