WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en-CA

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[Anselmo]: Hello! This is
DeafDots, 24 June 2022.

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Bringing alerts & news reports
at intervals for all Deaf Canadians.

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Don't forget to subscribe,
like, and follow DeafDots

00:00:25.525 --> 00:00:28.395
to get new video updates!

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[Anselmo]: On April 19, 2022 Telus
filed a reply to CRTC's Call for

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comments - Accessibility - Mobile
wireless plans that meet the needs of

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Canadians with various disabilities.

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Telus was responding
to cost claims by

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Deaf Wireless Canada Committee
(DWCC),

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Canadian National Society
of the Deaf-Blind, Inc. (CNSDB),

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Deaf and Hard of Hearing
Coalition (DHH Coalition),

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and Canada Deaf Grassroots
Movement (CDGM).

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Telus says cost claims from all
groups were within a similar range,

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but had concerns with DWCC's
cost claim which was significantly higher.

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CRTC has a policy
related to cost recovery.

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Telus had informed CRTC
they were satisfied with

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invoices from different
groups who advocated

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including our cost recovery
claim, except for DWCC.

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They just responded to CRTC
and Telus so now we wait 

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to see as CRTC makes
the final answer.

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[Anselmo]: Individuals and groups
can request reimbursement for

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their efforts in participating
in CRTC proceedings.

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Can anyone do it?

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CRTC regulates everything telecom,
internet, TV, and radio related.

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CRTC always asks for public input
before making any policies that

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that affect all of us.

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Public input is welcome from
anyone, especially individuals,

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organisations, and groups.

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Groups of what?

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Could be groups of organisations,
individuals, or both.

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[Anselmo]: Why does CRTC
want public comments from

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individuals, organisations,
and groups?

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To level the playing field,
CRTC allows all three

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to file cost claims
to get reimbursed for

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their expenses - photocopying, FAX, travel,

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and accommodations
if going to CRTC meetings.

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The last two can get reimbursed
for the hours of work performed.

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[Anselmo]: How do these
public comments help?

00:05:05.605 --> 00:05:15.882
The public will argue for policies
friendly to them while telecom and

00:05:15.882 --> 00:05:25.525
internet companies will argue
for policies friendly to them.

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The companies have an advantage
over the public - they have deep pockets with

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legal and technical staff who do
nothing but work on CRTC issues.

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[Anselmo]: Elliott raised a good point -
telecommunication companies can afford

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to research and file documents
and attend CRTC proceedings

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while it is more of a burden for everyday
people and groups to do the same.

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The Telecommunications Act
authorises CRTC to award costs

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related to telecommunications
proceedings.

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This is to ensure effective
representation of public interest.

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When a proceeding at CRTC is
completed, representatives of 

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public interest can file cost claim
requests to be reimbursed.

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Does CRTC pay the cost
and how long does it take

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 to get reimbursement?

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It takes CRTC about 12 to 15 months
to analyse and approve the claims

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then after that, the phone and internet
companies pay these claims.

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[Anselmo]: In a filing to CRTC
on April 19th, Telus challenged

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DWCC's claim of $176,432.10
which they felt merited specific attention

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especially in comparison to cost
claim amounts requested by

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other accessibility advocacy organisations.

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Telus requested CRTC ensure that
DWCC meets all requirements

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before a decision is made.

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They listed a number of concerns
including the fact that majority of

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work by DWCC was done at senior
consultant rate instead of delegating

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certain tasks to junior or intermediate
consultants to minimise cost.

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Of the 764 hours DWCC was claiming,
561 hours were billed by senior consultants.

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For example leading on top of
consulting and analyst fees:

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DWCC Chair-Consultant
Lisa Anderson-Kellett

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who claimed 458 hours
at $225 per hour,

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and Jeffrey Beatty who claimed
99 hours at $225 rate.

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DWCC responded that their senior
consultants stayed with CRTC proceedings

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from start to finish while junior consultants
would come and go depending

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on each proceeding and
scope of work needed.

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We now have to wait to see how
CRTC decides on DWCC's cost claim

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but this brings up the question of
who is considered a national watchdog

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 representing Deaf Canadians on
telecommunications matters?

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National groups advocating CRTC
on different proceedings up

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to now including mobile wireless,
VRS review, and 3 digit number for

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mental health hotline to name a few,
we all are advocates,

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this includes DWCC of course, CDGM, and 

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DHH Coalition - Deaf & Hard of Hearing Coalition

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representing three organisations in one:
DAANS in Nova Scotia, OAD,

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and Newfoundland together,
CNDSB and CAD-ASC... 

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so in concept we all are
considered watchdogs

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to CRTC and filing interventions
to inform them so they are aware

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and we all work together.

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[Anselmo]: DWCC started in 2015
and became an ad-hoc committee endorsed

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by the Canadian Association of the Deaf.

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In recent months, there have been
reports that DWCC and CAD have

00:12:34.120 --> 00:12:38.791
decided to dissolve this relationship.

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DeafDots has been unable
to verify their current status,

00:12:43.796 --> 00:12:52.872
and Lisa Anderson, DWCC chair has
 not yet responded to clarify their current status.

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These organisations who have
been filing submissions are

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considered as watchdogs.

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In reality, this is what we do,
CDGM has been doing...

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making sure and alerting
them of VRS review,

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needed improvements,
what is not good

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and what is good...
wireless mobile plans,

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we are pushing for accessibility
and fighting for unlimited data

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as using VRS consumes
huge amounts of bandwidth

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exhausting the data plan
so we make sure it is our duty

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to inform that these issues
are not Deaf-friendly.

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We'd like to see all linked together -
phone, internet, and TV services

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that are under CRTC -
become Deaf-friendly for

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all Deaf, Deaf-Blind,
and hard-of-hearing people

00:14:02.308 --> 00:14:06.912
so it is critical that we be a watchdog
and make sure these issues are

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 being addressed.

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[Anselmo]: While the current status of
DWCC and CAD's relationships has not

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been disclosed, we can be
thankful that CDGM and DHH Coalition

00:14:25.231 --> 00:14:34.473
continue to advocate, educate and
represent the needs of Deaf Canadians with 

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CRTC and telecommunication providers.

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[Anselmo]: Last month on May 29th,
a 21 year-old Deaf man in Toronto,

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Christian Garcia, who is
also blind in his right eye

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was assaulted and robbed inside
the Dundas subway station.

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DeafDots spoke to Christain
to ask what happened.

00:15:28.560 --> 00:15:33.432
I went inside the Dundas
subway station after the mall.

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While I was inside, I was texting
my mom to let her know

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 I was on my way back home,
then suddenly one Black man

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grabbed my phone and
I wanted to ask him

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if he could mind giving
it back to me, please.

00:15:45.778 --> 00:15:47.980
Once I touched him,
he turned around and started

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beating me for a length of time -
hitting my face and eyes;

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he punched me 20 times.

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I screamed for help.

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People gathered around
but didn't help me -

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they just stood there watching
and didn't make any effort

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to stop him while
he was beating me up.

00:16:12.137 --> 00:16:16.108
I eventually fell onto the ground,
seriously injured and then the man fled

00:16:16.108 --> 00:16:19.545
from the scene - people didn't
even try to stop him.

00:16:19.778 --> 00:16:24.917
[Anselmo]: How did the Toronto
police communicate with you?

00:16:25.317 --> 00:16:31.390
When I was in the ambulance,
I had to communicate without an

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an interpreter. When I got to the hospital,
there were police officers waiting for me,

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there were no interpreters there
also and I had to speak to communicate.

00:16:43.535 --> 00:16:50.042
The next day, I went to the police
station to discuss the incident

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and there weren't any
interpreters again.

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We didn't even use pen and paper
to communicate, just talked with our voices.

00:16:55.314 --> 00:17:00.285
I explained what happened with the
Black man who beat me up.

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I had to guess his size, age,
and describe what he looks like.

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[Anselmo]: Does TTC need
to improve security?

00:17:11.030 --> 00:17:18.203
TTC's security needs to improve by
adding more officers and cameras

00:17:18.203 --> 00:17:20.172
 to ensure our safety.

00:17:21.540 --> 00:17:30.549
We need more protection to prevent
someone getting robbed and hit

00:17:30.549 --> 00:17:31.917
or if there's chaos.

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They need to keep it under control
to ensure this doesn't happen again

00:17:36.255 --> 00:17:37.990
or let a perpetrator escape
from the scene.

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[Anselmo]: Did someone
from TTC contact you?

00:17:44.163 --> 00:17:50.235
When I was on the ground, hurt,
TTC didn't ask me questions,

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instead they asked
spectators what happened.

00:17:53.338 --> 00:18:01.213
There was no actual conversation,
all they did was ask whether I was okay.

00:18:01.213 --> 00:18:06.819
A random person gave me
some bottled water and brought back

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my shopping bags. 
My phone is still lost.

00:18:11.523 --> 00:18:18.297
[Anselmo]: A TTC spokesperson said
that police are still investigating.

00:18:18.297 --> 00:18:22.734
They are hiring more special
constables and increasing

00:18:22.734 --> 00:18:29.875
the number of cameras in stations
to help act as a deterrent to crime.

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According to the AODA - Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act -

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a document called "Customer Service
Plan for Toronto Police Service, TPS"

00:18:46.792 --> 00:18:55.934
requires them to provide sign language
communication support for Deaf people.

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[Anselmo]: How much control do Deaf
Canadians have over the interpreter

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booking process?

00:19:11.685 --> 00:19:17.714
Are we able to make the booking
quickly at any time?

00:19:17.714 --> 00:19:24.930
DeafDots asked Canadian social
service agencies that

00:19:24.930 --> 00:19:26.899
schedule sign language interpreters.

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Clients can put in a request by
phone, email, text, or various

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communication methods.

00:19:37.042 --> 00:19:41.013
CHS Interpreting Service business
hours are from Monday to Friday.

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The hours though are from 8 am
to 8 pm Monday to Thursday

00:19:45.551 --> 00:19:49.021
and Fridays are from 8 am to 5 pm.

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You can contact us through
email, Skype, TTY, or VRS.

00:19:56.895 --> 00:20:02.968
Emergency Interpreting Service - EIS -
operates after hours and weekends.

00:20:02.968 --> 00:20:14.279
You can contact EIS by
email - urgent@chs.ca, text, and VRS.

00:20:14.780 --> 00:20:18.984
[Anselmo]: How many days do you
need to get an ASL interpreter

00:20:18.984 --> 00:20:24.523
booking request?

00:20:24.957 --> 00:20:31.096
More notice, the better.

00:20:31.096 --> 00:20:34.099
Although sometimes very last-minute
requests can be filled

00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.500
if interpreters are available.

00:20:35.500 --> 00:20:39.438
There is no guarantee that
it will be covered

00:20:39.438 --> 00:20:43.041
as it depends on availability
and regions.

00:20:43.475 --> 00:20:45.811
The answer is that there are no deadlines,

00:20:45.811 --> 00:20:49.281
however we do suggest you book
about 2 or 3 weeks ahead for

00:20:49.281 --> 00:20:51.149
better chances at actually
reserving an interpreter

00:20:51.149 --> 00:20:52.184
while they're still available.

00:20:52.451 --> 00:20:58.890
[Anselmo]: Can Deaf clients
request specific interpreters?

00:20:59.758 --> 00:21:03.195
Yes, Deaf clients can request
specific interpreters or create

00:21:03.195 --> 00:21:05.797
a list of preferred interpreters.

00:21:06.465 --> 00:21:11.370
Yes, and it's encouraged to
have consistent interpreters

00:21:11.370 --> 00:21:14.473
since they will have knowledge
of your background

00:21:14.473 --> 00:21:18.677
because that will create
better quality of interpretation.

00:21:19.044 --> 00:21:21.813
[Anselmo]: If an interpreter
cancels at the last minute

00:21:21.813 --> 00:21:23.682
or is a no show,

00:21:23.682 --> 00:21:25.517
what happens then?

00:21:26.051 --> 00:21:29.321
Sometimes interpreters are sick
or can't go to an assignment,

00:21:29.321 --> 00:21:33.859
CHS will always try to find a
replacement even at the last minute.

00:21:33.859 --> 00:21:36.194
CHS will try to find a replacement
and if we are not successful,

00:21:36.194 --> 00:21:38.830
we will reach out to work out a
solution, possibly reschedule or

00:21:38.830 --> 00:21:40.866
if in person, can switch to VRI.

00:21:40.866 --> 00:21:43.001
We will work with you.

00:21:43.602 --> 00:21:49.441
If we have a last minute cancellation
or a no show cancellation,

00:21:49.441 --> 00:21:54.146
we will search locally for an available
interpreter to replace the other one.

00:21:54.146 --> 00:21:57.449
If it's not possible to find an
interpreter, you have to reschedule

00:21:57.449 --> 00:21:59.885
your appointment or go ahead
without an interpreter.

00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:07.092
[Anselmo]: In the United States two
organisations - CSD, Communication Service

00:22:07.092 --> 00:22:13.765
for the Deaf and Linguabee both have
customised cloud-based scheduling

00:22:13.765 --> 00:22:21.740
platforms so Deaf, hard-of-hearing, and
hearing clients can have more control over

00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:26.211
their default settings and preferences.

00:22:26.211 --> 00:22:28.680
Do you plan to do the same?

00:22:41.660 --> 00:22:45.997
Yes, we plan on creating an online
booking system for Deaf

00:22:45.997 --> 00:22:49.368
and other clients so they can book
an interpreter themselves.

00:22:50.202 --> 00:22:54.005
CHS already has a system in place
where a coordinator receives

00:22:54.005 --> 00:22:56.308
the request through several options
for booking an interpreter

00:22:56.308 --> 00:22:59.344
which includes email,
phone VRS, TTY, or Skype.

00:22:59.344 --> 00:23:05.217
They will process it in the system,
review interpreters' availability

00:23:05.217 --> 00:23:08.420
then book an interpreter.

00:23:08.420 --> 00:23:12.124
CHS is always considering ways
to improve efficient options

00:23:12.124 --> 00:23:14.126
for interpreter bookings.

00:23:14.426 --> 00:23:18.864
[Anselmo]: The process of booking a
sign language interpreter in Canada

00:23:18.864 --> 00:23:20.966
is still manual.

00:23:20.966 --> 00:23:26.505
With current technology it is
now possible and economical

00:23:26.505 --> 00:23:31.977
to create an online solution for
both Video Relay Service

00:23:31.977 --> 00:23:39.017
and Video Remote
Interpreting services.

00:23:39.017 --> 00:23:42.921
Canada needs to update
technology which would

00:23:42.921 --> 00:23:46.925
save time for everyone -
the interpreting agency,

00:23:46.925 --> 00:23:57.969
the interpreters, the Deaf consumers,
and the hearing consumers who can access

00:23:57.969 --> 00:24:04.209
their accounts at any time!

00:24:11.716 --> 00:24:20.091
[Anselmo]: A 2014 study by 
the University of Toronto shows

00:24:20.091 --> 00:24:28.133
approximately 3,050 Canadians
had received cochlear implants

00:24:28.133 --> 00:24:30.168
to date and DeafDots could not
find any updated information.

00:24:30.168 --> 00:24:34.606
An issue has been raised
where CI users have

00:24:34.606 --> 00:24:38.443
to cover additional costs
depending on

00:24:38.443 --> 00:24:42.113
which part of Canada they live in.

00:24:42.113 --> 00:24:47.953
I asked Nicole what these
additional costs are.

00:24:48.386 --> 00:24:55.961
[Nicole]: Rod Rossemo, a Deaf man
from Saskatchewan met with

00:24:55.961 --> 00:25:03.747
the province's Health Minister,
Paul Merriman, to lobby

00:25:03.747 --> 00:25:09.741
the Saskatchewan government
to fully fund technological upgrades

00:25:09.741 --> 00:25:15.013
to the CI because he did not realise
the sound processor needs

00:25:15.013 --> 00:25:17.249
to be replaced every 8 to 10 years.

00:25:17.249 --> 00:25:26.033
Companies like Cochlear Americas
stop providing parts or service

00:25:26.033 --> 00:25:32.097
for old processors, forcing people with
CI to upgrade to newer versions;

00:25:32.097 --> 00:25:35.834
Saskatchewan's health plan
does not cover that.

00:25:35.834 --> 00:25:42.307
Rod said new sound processors
cost $11,700 for each side, totalling

00:25:42.307 --> 00:25:47.245
to $23,400 and insurance
would only cover $500.

00:25:52.083 --> 00:26:00.158
[Nicole]: In comparison, Quebec, its
health plan does cover 100 percent of

00:26:00.158 --> 00:26:08.233
the replacement cost when devices
are no longer covered by warranty.

00:26:08.233 --> 00:26:12.437
Manitoba just announced that it will
cover 80 per cent of the cost of

00:26:12.437 --> 00:26:16.508
sound processors for both adults
and children every five years.

00:26:16.508 --> 00:26:24.316
B.C. also offers a cost-share program
every six to seven years,

00:26:24.316 --> 00:26:27.719
with recipients pitching
in less than $1,000.

00:26:27.719 --> 00:26:32.524
The federal government covers
the entire cost of new processors

00:26:32.524 --> 00:26:39.064
every five years for First
Nations and Inuit people.

00:26:39.064 --> 00:26:44.302
The Ontario government covers 75
percent of the cost of replacement

00:26:44.302 --> 00:26:51.276
sound processors, but with a cap
of $5,444 every three years,

00:26:51.276 --> 00:26:54.646
which is less than half the cost.

00:26:54.646 --> 00:26:59.451
A mother from Toronto who has a son
with CI said she can't understand

00:26:59.451 --> 00:27:04.520
why health plans will cover
devices that allow people to hear

00:27:04.520 --> 00:27:06.358
and then not cover upgrades.

00:27:06.358 --> 00:27:09.995
She said, "why would you want to implant
in the first place if that were the case?

00:27:09.995 --> 00:27:12.197
Why would you be so cruel and unusual?

00:27:12.197 --> 00:27:14.833
'Here, you can hear.
Oh no, sorry."

00:27:15.433 --> 00:27:16.868
[Anselmo]: Thanks, Nicole.

00:27:16.868 --> 00:27:22.212
That means we need to be more
assertive when researching

00:27:22.212 --> 00:27:26.505
insurance coverages.

00:27:26.505 --> 00:27:29.384
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