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April 7, 2006
Deaf students sue over fee for driver's ed interpreter
A group of deaf teenagers are suing five driving schools in central Minnesota, claiming the schools violated federal and state human rights laws by refusing to provide sign language interpreters. The teenagers' families, some of whom have spent thousands of dollars to hire their own interpreters, say they are seeking justice for all deaf kids.
"I hope we win the case," said Heather Breitbach, a deaf 16-year-old. "But I also hope a new law gets established so all future deaf kids can take driver's ed with an interpreter and not have to fight in court about it."
Breitbach and four other deaf teenagers filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis last week. It seeks a minimum of nearly $300,000 in punitive and compensatory damages.
School owners say they want to do the right thing, but the cost is high -- as much as 10 times the cost of the course. Since the suit was filed at least two schools have said they will begin paying for interpreters.
The teens' attorneys claim state and federal laws make such accommodations mandatory.
"Since many public schools no longer offer driver's education, convincing private driver's education schools to provide interpreters has become a recurrent issue," said Bruce Hodek, director of the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Services Division of the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
The U.S. Department of Justice settled a similar case against a Wisconsin driving school in 1999. In that case, Wold Driving School of Wausau was found in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and ordered to reimburse a deaf student for interpreter costs.
By The Associated Press
Posted by 4HL on April 7, 2006 12:59 AM
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