Terrible service and they refuse to provide me a q...

Terrible service and they refuse to provide me a qualified interpreter. I am deaf and I went to the emergency room, all shaken up and somewhat confused. I asked for a qualified interpreter a few times but they forced me to do the paper-and-pen method where I had to write everything out on paper as opposed to using an interpreter to communicate with the staff there.

With me being disoriented, I can't really write well because I was trembling badly, which resulted in shaky penmanship on paper. Half of the time the staff tried to talk to me, thinking that I am an expert at reading lip. Yes, I can read lips but it depends on the individual as long as they keep their mouth clear of obstruction, speak at a moderate speed and there are "expressions" with their lips to indicate words being said rather than being "monotone" where the lips aren't moving much.

I continued to ask for a qualified interpreter and they continued to deny me one as the night went on. I grew paranoid, thinking I could die in the hospital due to being mistreated because I was not able to relay my status properly to them but luckily for me, they were able to see what was going on with me and diagnosed me (hopefully it was the proper diagnosis as I seem to be OK since my ER visit).

Overall, poor service, terrible attitude toward deaf people (I'm not the only one who received poor service, some of my deaf friends also have similar experience with the hospital and the ER staff) and the ignorance is high (not understanding our rights to reasonable accommodations as stated in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law). They really need to study and understand the ADA law because what they are doing is oppression of someone's rights to reasonable accommodations.

Be wary of the hospital or any places under Blanchard Valley Health System! Go to Bluffton as they provide better service.