White House Sued Over ASL Interpreter Access – NPR
- The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has filed a lawsuit against the White House, alleging a lack of American sign Language (ASL) interpreters at press briefings.The lawsuit...
- The NAD contends that the White House ceased providing ASL interpreters at press briefings when President Trump began his second term.
- ASL, a language distinct from English, possesses it's own vocabulary and grammatical structure.
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has sued the White House, advocating for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters at press briefings, a pivotal move for accessibility. This legal action, detailed in this article from News Directory 3, strives to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals have equal access to vital details. The lawsuit highlights that ASL, the primary language for many, is essential for comprehensive understanding.The NAD aims to restore ASL interpretation access, and in doing so, promote inclusivity. Discover what’s next as the case progresses.
National association of the Deaf Sues White House for Briefing Access
Updated May 30, 2025
The National Association of the Deaf (NAD) has filed a lawsuit against the White House, alleging a lack of American sign Language (ASL) interpreters at press briefings.The lawsuit seeks to ensure equal access to facts for the deaf and hard of hearing community.
The NAD contends that the White House ceased providing ASL interpreters at press briefings when President Trump began his second term. The lawsuit requests the court mandate the presence of ASL interpreters at thes events and ensure video of the interpreters is accessible to viewers.
ASL, a language distinct from English, possesses it’s own vocabulary and grammatical structure. The NAD estimates that hundreds of thousands in the U.S. primarily use ASL for communication. Many deaf and hard of hearing individuals have limited English proficiency, making English closed captioning an insufficient substitute, according to the organization. This impacts their ability to stay informed on significant issues.
What’s next
The lawsuit is now before the courts. The National Association of the Deaf hopes to ensure that the White House provides equal access to information through American Sign Language interpretation.