Many thanks to Jack Barr for bringing this major story to our attention! This kind of situation is VERY common throughout the United States with deaf people having unqualified interpreters or NO interpreters during the court process. It is time for us to make noise and end this injustice in the court system. How can you help??? Please use 5-10 minutes of your time to do this and it will make a BIG difference:
1. Please send an e-mail to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editor expressing your disappointment in the Milwaukee County Court System
2. Fax or mail a letter to Judge Pocan requesting him to give the parents another chance to go through the process with QUALIFIED interpreters to prove if they are fit parents or not
Letter to judge:
Judge William S. Pocan
10201 Watertown Plank Rd
Branch 26, Room 1410
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
PHONE: (414) 257-7098
FAX: (414) 454-4074 *make sure Judge Pocan’s name is on the fax sheet*
WOW you did a fantastic job! I was fascinated with your story about the poor deaf couple struggling with the court systems to get their children back. I read the article and was appalled with the suffering of the couple. I like it when you interviewed the couple. Makes it even more real. I feel so moved by the couple. You do a wonderful job as a reporter! I look forward to Part II and more! Thank you!
Just i was look this your video…I feel pretty shock and my heart is broke..I don’t like why they not let pick get interpterper.. Why the court don’t care about deaf parent keep away no common sense,Oh please why should court be nice let parent need back kids come on..I look at parent feel hurt enough and sad keep bother where kids need back to belong parent are blood born right…Why her mother keep secert then she left on the bus for shopping til back her mother house look for where are her kids..Her mother just told her..Why her mohter don’t care have to call to welfare come got her kids away from her mom…No reason…How she feel about mother do that???I not pleasure of her mother without not tell her know about kids..That awful..Please keep hard prayer help where her kids..I want kids back to parent make happy again stay close family toghter..
Oh yes, I am so glad you shared this story as well. My friends from Wyoming (the story is told on my blog last month) still want to have their case to be dismissed by Nebraska, but they keep ignoring. They are trying to find a lawyer but one problem is that they don’t have enough money. They finally got their son back on their own (if you don’t know about their story, please check my blog…I did the story on my vlog), but they CANNOT visit their son’s grandparents in Nebraska just because the court case is not closed or dismissed. It will be three years by 2008! Their son’s grandpa and grandma are too old to drive to Wyoming to visit them. I am trying to find a way to get their case dismissed before they could go visit “grandpa and grandma” in Nebraska. Any idea? Please check my blog if you haven’t heard their story.
I am so glad you shared with us and it is very important for them to know and we need to do something about it. I heard that there are more than few cases like that! One of them is in Arizona.
CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE NO EXCUSE TO HIRE NON CERTIFICATED FOR INTERPRETER QUAILITED!!
I am kind of angry after reading this sad stories. How much they frustrated so often without interpreter. Second grade level. I dont blame for that. but Grandmother sometime ruin their lives. It is not their fault .. Sad that Grandmother one of them could not communicated well.
Pretty sad.. Glad that Jack helped them better and chase them everywhere to help them .. So sweet!! Jack.. I love that what he like to chase and collect with their difficult time.
My eye tears! it is not the simple for them lost their children.
Why they force them to sign the forms if they don’t understand.
They can win the ADA lawsuit. because they failed of recongized of ADA Law has been clearly! Why they hired bad interpreter who is not qualifted.
So Wisconsin doesn’t have the interpreter law? Utah has such law and mandatory continuing professional licenses along with continuing interpreter training. In effect since 1993.
Also Utah’s courts are REQUIRED to see to it that the deaf have the QUALIFIED interpreters. Can’t have any interpreters just because they are interpreters.
Make me wonder, how many states DO NOT have interpreter laws?
Wow what a awful story. Many thanks to Jack for bringing our attention to this. Hope things will get resolved in the deaf couple’s favor.
It’s ok for hearing parents to live with their deaf child(ren) with whom they don’t communicate with but it’s not ok for a deaf parent to drop off a deaf child with a relative for a day?
You need go back to school.. I am kidding ya. I did read and puzzled.. after 15 mintues later I got home from my daughter’s friend house shortly..
Now, it is better.. haha hee. quiet funny..
By the way, I agree with you .. I cannot understand and hard to beleive!! We, from DeafRead viewer are annoyed about Court and lack of education.
But I read it say that Grandma has been spent with grandchildren. I was shocked it say two days.. but the parents just say all day only.
the newspaper say that Grandma fed up.. plus they are not communicate along well. Kind of confusion and also 2 grade level that the parents dont know how to get interpreter agencies. I was stunned!
What is the sad in the world about abuse on deaf parents or victims, etc..
It is really kind of awakened for court judge about ADA Law.. It is hell for them to struggle for 3 years. I blame the judge hired non certificate interpreter only know fingerspell.. I cannot understand!
im absoutely STUNNED when i saw this and i just DROPPED my jaw for the first time in a long time and i was like WHAT! i just can NOT belive this! im praying for the return of the kids cuz they need thier parents and the courts needs to do better in the system! My GOD! i just can’t belive this!!!!!!
Jack.. If there is a way for me to help you guys such as send an email to the newspaper or send a letter to judge, I’LL DO IT! everybody should do the same thing. Let me know an email address to milwaukee sentienal or judge’s email address or whatever asap thanks
They would not check their email in courthouse. Write a letter and stamp to mail Judge instead of email. he would not want to email.
I feel We need to written to make him to attendtion. HE IS INGNORED OF A.D.A. Law.
Written a letter NOW! ..I am going to mail him today. I wrote a letter. I emailed to newspaper,too.. I think it is important of their right to get childrens back.
OH JEEZ! WE STILL HAVE IGNORANT PROFESSIONALS IN THE WORLD??? IT IS REALLY SO SAD THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE SHOULD BE F I R E D………
OMG I’m from WI and missed this story as I didn’t get paper that day. I’m not surprised at all. Mala and Bonnie are very good interpreters and I’m glad they are involved now. Many counties in WI are not aware of rules and law regarding interpreters. I have heard of stories where Judge will ask deaf person how much he/she makes to make a determination if they should pay for interpreter (like many hispanics, russians, etc. have to) but deaf people are not supposed to pay regarless of how much they make because it is the law! I had to fight to get an interpreter for my traffic case. BIG ignorancy in state of WI when it comes to deaf people and court. This is very sad. I hope justice wins out in the end. Thanks Jack for bringing this story to light!
Wow! Thanks for bringing an attention to story with us. What a sad story. I could see in their eyes are so painful and grief over lost Deaf children to CPS and Foster Care. They have been struggle and frustrate with the system in WI. My heart goes out to them. They need their children back ASAP before Foster Care hand out to adoption families.
Glad that Jack interviewed the Deaf parents and be supportive for them. They’re so precious and deserve to have a better future.
first i want to talk about the people that call them self normal like the court the lawyer the welfare i read the papers and it allllll sound like lies what they are trying to do in court of law u can not prejury and they seem that they are doing this prejury by cover it up with what they say they are trying like send e mail call on phone get an interpreter and saying that parents understand like they assumes it means a yes lol what a crock of bull now the welfare are lying through their teeth any one could easy notice that lies so i am sure honest to god they all are telling lies like they tried i have been going to many many many case of courts drs hospital police and they all say the same thing tried then i start change my way to prove their lie i ask who they call or try to reach then i ask that person who they tried no such a thing so i am sure i can and will prove that those people that call them self normal ( hearing people ) that they lie and they should spend some time in jail even the judge too i would love to go up there and help those wonderful innocient deaf parents of those two children i pray to god that he can take his hand and punish those bad people that know they are doing this by being a very attention looking good to them self charles carver from mississippi by the way the people that doing this sound just like saddam hussin two son take the woman kill their boy friend or husband sound same like this court system same god knows for sure
20 comments
Comments feed for this article
December 9, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Deaf Advocate
Many thanks to Jack Barr for bringing this major story to our attention! This kind of situation is VERY common throughout the United States with deaf people having unqualified interpreters or NO interpreters during the court process. It is time for us to make noise and end this injustice in the court system. How can you help??? Please use 5-10 minutes of your time to do this and it will make a BIG difference:
1. Please send an e-mail to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editor expressing your disappointment in the Milwaukee County Court System
Write a letter to the editor:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editor
E-mail: jsedit@journalsentinel.com
2. Fax or mail a letter to Judge Pocan requesting him to give the parents another chance to go through the process with QUALIFIED interpreters to prove if they are fit parents or not
Letter to judge:
Judge William S. Pocan
10201 Watertown Plank Rd
Branch 26, Room 1410
Wauwatosa, WI 53226
PHONE: (414) 257-7098
FAX: (414) 454-4074 *make sure Judge Pocan’s name is on the fax sheet*
3. E-mail to NAD asking them to wake up and get involved in this.
Letter/e-mail to NAD:
http://www.nad.org ~ http://www.nad.org/contactus
December 9, 2007 at 5:02 pm
FactFindings
WOW you did a fantastic job! I was fascinated with your story about the poor deaf couple struggling with the court systems to get their children back. I read the article and was appalled with the suffering of the couple. I like it when you interviewed the couple. Makes it even more real. I feel so moved by the couple. You do a wonderful job as a reporter!
I look forward to Part II and more! Thank you!
*waves hands in the air*
December 9, 2007 at 5:43 pm
Angelgrosseyes
Just i was look this your video…I feel pretty shock and my heart is broke..I don’t like why they not let pick get interpterper.. Why the court don’t care about deaf parent keep away no common sense,Oh please why should court be nice let parent need back kids come on..I look at parent feel hurt enough and sad keep bother where kids need back to belong parent are blood born right…Why her mother keep secert then she left on the bus for shopping til back her mother house look for where are her kids..Her mother just told her..Why her mohter don’t care have to call to welfare come got her kids away from her mom…No reason…How she feel about mother do that???I not pleasure of her mother without not tell her know about kids..That awful..Please keep hard prayer help where her kids..I want kids back to parent make happy again stay close family toghter..
Thanks you for your sharing…KEEP PRAYER PLEASE
December 9, 2007 at 6:25 pm
Deb Ann
Oh yes, I am so glad you shared this story as well. My friends from Wyoming (the story is told on my blog last month) still want to have their case to be dismissed by Nebraska, but they keep ignoring. They are trying to find a lawyer but one problem is that they don’t have enough money. They finally got their son back on their own (if you don’t know about their story, please check my blog…I did the story on my vlog), but they CANNOT visit their son’s grandparents in Nebraska just because the court case is not closed or dismissed. It will be three years by 2008! Their son’s grandpa and grandma are too old to drive to Wyoming to visit them. I am trying to find a way to get their case dismissed before they could go visit “grandpa and grandma” in Nebraska. Any idea? Please check my blog if you haven’t heard their story.
I am so glad you shared with us and it is very important for them to know and we need to do something about it. I heard that there are more than few cases like that! One of them is in Arizona.
December 9, 2007 at 6:31 pm
Deaf Pixie
CANNOT BELIEVE THEY ARE NO EXCUSE TO HIRE NON CERTIFICATED FOR INTERPRETER QUAILITED!!
I am kind of angry after reading this sad stories. How much they frustrated so often without interpreter. Second grade level. I dont blame for that. but Grandmother sometime ruin their lives. It is not their fault .. Sad that Grandmother one of them could not communicated well.
Pretty sad.. Glad that Jack helped them better and chase them everywhere to help them .. So sweet!! Jack.. I love that what he like to chase and collect with their difficult time.
My eye tears! it is not the simple for them lost their children.
Why they force them to sign the forms if they don’t understand.
They can win the ADA lawsuit. because they failed of recongized of ADA Law has been clearly! Why they hired bad interpreter who is not qualifted.
December 9, 2007 at 6:38 pm
W. David Samuelsen
So Wisconsin doesn’t have the interpreter law? Utah has such law and mandatory continuing professional licenses along with continuing interpreter training. In effect since 1993.
Also Utah’s courts are REQUIRED to see to it that the deaf have the QUALIFIED interpreters. Can’t have any interpreters just because they are interpreters.
Make me wonder, how many states DO NOT have interpreter laws?
December 9, 2007 at 7:25 pm
Brandi
That breaks my heart when I hear these stories how the systems do to the deaf people. We deserve the help and keep the kids.
December 9, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Barinthus
Wow what a awful story. Many thanks to Jack for bringing our attention to this. Hope things will get resolved in the deaf couple’s favor.
It’s ok for hearing parents to live with their deaf child(ren) with whom they don’t communicate with but it’s not ok for a deaf parent to drop off a deaf child with a relative for a day?
December 9, 2007 at 7:54 pm
White Ghost
As far as I can see that the Grandmother *FAILED* to raise and communicate one of her children. It is a huge burden for her.
I *TRULY* do not think that the Grandmother do not accept one of her children. She gets away with it.
We all need to prove her that we can do it.
We will prevail.
DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING FROM THE CHILD WELFARE UNLESS YOU GET A LAWYER WHO UNDERSTANDS THE DEAF ISSUE AND A “LAW” CERTIFIED INTERPRETER.
Have faith and we are with you.
White Ghost
December 9, 2007 at 8:11 pm
White Ghost
Opps I meant’
“I *Truly* DO think that the Grandmother DO NOT accept one of her children.”
Sorry for the typo.
White Ghost
December 9, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Deaf Pixie
White Ghost,
You need go back to school.. I am kidding ya. I did read and puzzled.. after 15 mintues later I got home from my daughter’s friend house shortly..
Now, it is better.. haha hee. quiet funny..
By the way, I agree with you .. I cannot understand and hard to beleive!! We, from DeafRead viewer are annoyed about Court and lack of education.
But I read it say that Grandma has been spent with grandchildren. I was shocked it say two days.. but the parents just say all day only.
the newspaper say that Grandma fed up.. plus they are not communicate along well. Kind of confusion and also 2 grade level that the parents dont know how to get interpreter agencies. I was stunned!
What is the sad in the world about abuse on deaf parents or victims, etc..
It is really kind of awakened for court judge about ADA Law.. It is hell for them to struggle for 3 years. I blame the judge hired non certificate interpreter only know fingerspell.. I cannot understand!
December 10, 2007 at 9:21 am
javapride
im absoutely STUNNED when i saw this and i just DROPPED my jaw for the first time in a long time and i was like WHAT! i just can NOT belive this! im praying for the return of the kids cuz they need thier parents and the courts needs to do better in the system! My GOD! i just can’t belive this!!!!!!
December 10, 2007 at 11:59 am
clarence
Jack.. If there is a way for me to help you guys such as send an email to the newspaper or send a letter to judge, I’LL DO IT! everybody should do the same thing. Let me know an email address to milwaukee sentienal or judge’s email address or whatever asap thanks
December 10, 2007 at 5:03 pm
Deaf Pixie
FYI,
They would not check their email in courthouse. Write a letter and stamp to mail Judge instead of email. he would not want to email.
I feel We need to written to make him to attendtion. HE IS INGNORED OF A.D.A. Law.
Written a letter NOW! ..I am going to mail him today. I wrote a letter. I emailed to newspaper,too.. I think it is important of their right to get childrens back.
Deaf Pixie
December 10, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Debbie C.
OH JEEZ! WE STILL HAVE IGNORANT PROFESSIONALS IN THE WORLD??? IT IS REALLY SO SAD THINGS LIKE THIS HAPPEN AND ALL THOSE PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THIS CASE SHOULD BE F I R E D………
December 10, 2007 at 10:10 pm
Good Grief
ADA Law does not have any interpreter law. Its what I learned from the recent meeting.
December 11, 2007 at 3:38 am
C
OMG I’m from WI and missed this story as I didn’t get paper that day. I’m not surprised at all. Mala and Bonnie are very good interpreters and I’m glad they are involved now. Many counties in WI are not aware of rules and law regarding interpreters. I have heard of stories where Judge will ask deaf person how much he/she makes to make a determination if they should pay for interpreter (like many hispanics, russians, etc. have to) but deaf people are not supposed to pay regarless of how much they make because it is the law! I had to fight to get an interpreter for my traffic case. BIG ignorancy in state of WI when it comes to deaf people and court. This is very sad. I hope justice wins out in the end. Thanks Jack for bringing this story to light!
December 11, 2007 at 3:42 am
C
Good Grief, ADA does have laws regarding qualified interpreters. Wisconsin statutes does have law regarding interpreters for the deaf, too.
December 11, 2007 at 5:40 am
JungleForest
Wow! Thanks for bringing an attention to story with us. What a sad story. I could see in their eyes are so painful and grief over lost Deaf children to CPS and Foster Care. They have been struggle and frustrate with the system in WI. My heart goes out to them. They need their children back ASAP before Foster Care hand out to adoption families.
Glad that Jack interviewed the Deaf parents and be supportive for them. They’re so precious and deserve to have a better future.
December 16, 2007 at 12:37 am
charlie carver
first i want to talk about the people that call them self normal like the court the lawyer the welfare i read the papers and it allllll sound like lies what they are trying to do in court of law u can not prejury and they seem that they are doing this prejury by cover it up with what they say they are trying like send e mail call on phone get an interpreter and saying that parents understand like they assumes it means a yes lol what a crock of bull now the welfare are lying through their teeth any one could easy notice that lies so i am sure honest to god they all are telling lies like they tried i have been going to many many many case of courts drs hospital police and they all say the same thing tried then i start change my way to prove their lie i ask who they call or try to reach then i ask that person who they tried no such a thing so i am sure i can and will prove that those people that call them self normal ( hearing people ) that they lie and they should spend some time in jail even the judge too i would love to go up there and help those wonderful innocient deaf parents of those two children i pray to god that he can take his hand and punish those bad people that know they are doing this by being a very attention looking good to them self charles carver from mississippi by the way the people that doing this sound just like saddam hussin two son take the woman kill their boy friend or husband sound same like this court system same god knows for sure