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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE STUDY OF THE COMMUNICATION ACCESS TO

DEMOCRATIC AND POLITICAL PROCESSES FOR DEAF AND

HARD-OF-HEARING PERSONS.

WHEREAS, there are approximately twenty million persons,

or eight and six-tenths percent of the total United States

population three years or older, who are deaf and

hard-of-hearing persons; and

WHEREAS, there are approximately one hundred ninety

thousand persons in the state of New Mexico who are deaf and

hard-of-hearing persons; and

WHEREAS, one percent of these persons use signed

language; and

WHEREAS, the number of people with any degree of hearing

loss continues to increase; and

WHEREAS, deaf and hard-of-hearing persons often do not

vote or register to vote due to a lack of availability of

equal communication access that results in their inability to

decide intelligently on the issues; and

WHEREAS, deaf and hard-of-hearing persons are

unintentionally left out of the democratic process because of

barriers in communication; and

WHEREAS, deaf and hard-of-hearing persons crave to be

empowered and to participate equally in the democratic

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process and all other aspects of community life; and

WHEREAS, the general population needs education on deaf

and hard-of-hearing communication access needs; and

WHEREAS, the voices of the deaf and the hard of hearing

need to be heard in the democratic process;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE

STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the commission for deaf and

hard-of-hearing persons and the office of the secretary of

state be requested to collaborate on a study to establish

communication access to ensure full participation in the

democratic process for all deaf and hard-of-hearing New

Mexicans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study determine how to

provide more interpreters at political events and closed

captioning on political television advertisements; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the study result in

recommendations to be reported no later than January 30, 2008

to the appropriate legislative committee as determined by the

New Mexico legislative council; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the commission for deaf and hard-of-hearing

persons and the secretary of state.