VOICEOVER: Alicia Lane on deaf and hard of hearing issues.
INTERPRETER: I’m Alicia Lane, a white Hispanic woman with dark, wavy hair. I’m wearing a black jacket, a black shirt, clear glasses, and a bird medallion necklace. My pronouns are she/her. I’m communicating in American Sign Language, and you’re hearing the voice of my interpreter.
I serve as the government relations director for the Minnesota Commission of the Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing. We at the commission are growing increasingly concerned about the political discourse that we’re seeing around disability. Some federal officials are using words such as threat, burden, and parasite.
Disabilities are a natural part of the human experience. Most will experience a disability at some point in life. Half of Americans, aged 75 and older, have a hearing loss. I myself became deaf from a disease that today can be prevented with a new vaccine.
But diseases are evolving too, and new vaccines continuously have to be developed. A world that is evolving biologically, geopolitically, and technologically means disability is here to stay. The sooner we embrace disability as a natural part of the human experience, and recognize the strength of our adaptability, the healthier we will be as a society.
This year, our rights are more at risk than ever. We at the commission have been talking with legislators about codifying into state law, the rights of Minnesotans who are deaf, deafblind, or hard of hearing. We are working to support Minnesota’s aging population, and to improve data collection on language acquisition for all children. We are also closely monitoring policymaking on emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, telehealth, and video remote interpreting to ensure that they are being applied appropriately.
Now, back to adaptability. This is exactly the strength that we and other disability groups bring. I call upon legislators to reach out to the commission early for anything having to do with communication access or hearing loss. We and other disability groups are accustomed to not only thinking, but living outside of the box. With our creativity and adaptability, your policy solutions will strengthen society by embracing disability as a natural part of the human experience.