Hearing disabilities advocate Jack Clevenger asked the Governing Board to look into the hearing disabilities issue (captioning) at the Performing Arts Center eight months ago, yet there has been no public response from the Board to his concern
Deb McCasland’s complaint that she couldn’t hear the comments of the Governing Board because of her hearing disability at the September 11 retreat is not the first time in the last few months that a hearing disabilities complaint has been brought to the attention of the Board. (See McCasland story below.)
Disabilities Advocate Jack Clevenger told the Board at its February 2017 meeting that the Americans for Disability Act requires improved (or possibly new) facilities be installed at the Performing Arts Center for the hearing impaired. From his perspective, the current hearing disability facilities provided at the PAC were not adequate because of a lack of captioning. He noted that the 11,000 residents of Prescott with hearing impairment might begin considering attending concerts and other events if the Center fully complied with ADA.
In response to Mr. Clevenger’s comments about the hearing disability issue at the PAC, the Board said nothing. It was silent and has not placed the issue on any Board Agenda after eight months. Furthermore, the Blog cannot recall the College President responding in her subsequent monthly reports to the Board about any changes at the PAC. Consequently, Yavapai County citizens have no way of knowing whether the PAC issue was addressed or ignored.
Query: Is the College in violation of the ADA? Why isn’t the College more receptive to persons with hearing disabilities like Jack Clevenger and Deb McCasland?
The Blog believes that President Penelope Wills should specifically address those concerns on the record at a Board meeting and assure the public that the College is responding to these important issues.
You may view Mr. Clevenger’s three- minute presentation below.