American Sign Language Interpreter Added To D202 Board Meetings

PLAINFIELD, IL — Going forward, an American Sign Language Interpreter will be signing at all District 202 Board of Education meetings, officials announced Friday.

People in attendance at the Jan. 24 and Feb. 14 Board of Education meetings likely noticed an additional speaker sitting in front of the Board, near the podium used for public comments. Signing for audience members and online views, this person was brought to meetings following a request from a community member with hearing impairments.

While officials don't know if the person will continue coming to meetings, Tom Hernandez, director of community relations, said in a news release Friday that administrators have decided to continue using an interpreter at all future Board meetings, with or without a formal request.

"We know there are probably other community members who benefit from and appreciate the service, whether they ever ask for it or not," Superintendent of Schools Lane Abrell said in a statement.

The interpreter is the district's latest effort to maintain and boost transparency and communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, which is when Board meetings began to be held predominantly online, Hernandez said.

Board meetings resumed being open to the public in July 2021, but officials continue live-streaming the meetings through its YouTube page for people who can't make them in person.

"This is just another way to communicate effectively and efficiently with all of our families and taxpayers, and to let them participate in their local government," Abrell said.

As an additional communication tool for live-streamed Board meetings, closed captioning is also available through YouTube.