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Commission debates ASL fluency requirement in bylaws; city attorney’s recommendation narrows mandate

3343185 · May 14, 2025
AI-Generated Content: All content on this page was generated by AI to highlight key points from the meeting. For complete details and context, we recommend watching the full video. so we can fix them.

Summary

Commissioners debated proposed bylaws language requiring applicants to be fluent in ASL and versed in deaf culture. The city attorney recommended lowering the numeric requirement to avoid exclusion and suggested using permissive language; the commission voted to continue the bylaws discussion next month for additional edits and public input.

Commissioners spent an extended portion of the June 3 meeting discussing proposed changes to the Commission on the Deaf’s bylaws, focusing on language that would require applicants to be “fluent in ASL” and demonstrate knowledge of deaf culture.

Commissioner Cicotte and other commissioners said mandatory fluency could exclude people with other deaf‑access needs, such as late‑onset hearing loss or those who use other communication…

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