Buffalo's deaf community concerned about deaf agency executive director hire who is hearing, not fluent in ASL

From The Buffalo News in NY:

About 100 members of the local deaf community August 3 debated the merits of Buffalo Deaf Adult Services having recently hired an executive director who is neither deaf nor fluent in American Sign Language.

The community forum held at the Buffalo Club of the Deaf, 2275 Clinton St., attracted a passionate crowd, some of whom were bitterly disappointed in the decision by the board of Deaf Adult Services to hire Tom Burns, a former Medaille College official who also worked for a local investment group, and others among the crowd who beseeched those in opposition to give Burns a chance.

While Burns is not hearing-impaired, like his predecessor, Robert Cagle, acting vice president of the Deaf Adult Services board, said he brings other valuable qualities to the job of executive director.

“He has extensive networking contacts within the Buffalo community. And, secondly, he’s local. . . . He knows a lot of different people in different organizations and businesses and different agencies that will help businesses become more aware of Deaf Adult Services,” said Cagle.

However, those who are not in favor of the board’s decision insisted that the board’s action stifles equal access to communication for office staff and members at Deaf Adult Services.

“He doesn’t know anything about sign language. He can’t communicate with the clients and understand the [Americans With Disabilities Act] laws. . . . So the deaf community is really outraged about this situation,” said Emily Glenn-Smith, chairwoman of American Sign Language in the Linguistics Department at the University at Buffalo.

Burns, who attended the meeting, briefly addressed the crowd using American Sign Language, for which he was applauded by some, while others criticized him for asking if they preferred he spoke through an interpreter.

“You don’t have to ask the room. It’s the deaf person’s right to have an interpreter,” someone shouted.

Members of the board said Burns would have access to an interpreter to help him communicate with staff and clients.

Cagle shared with the members a list of new initiatives Burns planned to introduce to the agency.