CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The conversation about the need of sign language interpreters for Montgomery County Commission meetings continued on Monday, when deaf community member Brice Pruyn addressed the commission.
Pruyn said he came forward after speaking with Artie Terrell Grassman, an advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing, who also addressed the County Commission last week. Pruyn said Monday he wanted to talk about disabilities.
“There’s a lot of different kinds of disabilities, blindness, deafness, people in wheelchairs. Deaf people are a part of disabilities because we cannot hear, but it seems like we are treated worse off than others,” Pruyn said. “It seems like others with disabilities do get a lot of help, but deaf people don’t because it’s a hidden disability.
“We need access to communication as well; an iPad for captioning isn’t completely effective. I’m one of the lucky few but 90% of the deaf community, they cannot read or write because their parents haven’t exposed them to good English, and they don’t sign with them. So, they have to be forced to speak, and that language separation really hurts.”
‘We just need equal access to everything’
Pruyn said he understands most English, but not 100% of the language. He then asked if you cannot understand everything, how can you effectively communicate with someone? “If you go to the hospital, emergency room or if there’s a wreck … there could be a lot of miscommunications because it is limited access and it’s hard to communicate. We need access to interpreters.”
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Pruyn said that video remote interpreting (VRI) can help at times, but he shared the experience was counterproductive when he visited a hospital.
“It just didn’t work out,” he said. “We’re all human, we all have the right to say things and use our native language. It seems like some of our First Amendments are limited just because we can’t speak. So, we just need equal access to everything, so we have full access both ways.”
Pruyn: ‘It seems like we’re pushed aside’
After the meeting, Clarksville Now asked Pruyn if he felt like he was understood Monday night.
“From my experience with being in hearing culture, I hope so, but I wouldn’t count on it,” he said. “Cause the point is, as I said, people tend to not be concerned with us, because we’re deaf and can’t speak, it seems like they don’t hear us. They listen, but they cannot hear us.
“Physically we’re fine, but if you can’t hear and can’t communicate, it seems like we’re pushed aside, because they’re focusing on people who can hear, and it does make us feel left out. And it’s not all hearing people that do that obviously, but it’s just those few that will listen to us and a lot don’t. It’s kind of sad.”
History of struggle by deaf community
Pruyn said he hopes Montgomery County will address his concerns soon. He pointed out over the centuries, including dating back to the 1800s, people have attempted to fix deafness and force deaf individuals to speak, which only worsens the situation, he said.
“And now doctors would prefer cochlear implants and force parents to do oral education, and deaf people’s intelligence levels have gone down because of it,” he said.
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Grassman said that after working with the deaf community for over 50 years, while also growing up around the community, she feels deaf people grow tired of the same struggle.
“It’s like every day; you have to save that struggle for important things like if someone needs to go the hospital like he said in his remarks. You have to struggle to get an interpreter. You’re struggling to take care of your health; you shouldn’t have to struggle to get an interpreter to communicate.”
Grassman said you would think in 2026, communities wouldn’t still be talking about needing interpreters for emergencies, as well as government meetings. “We’re a long way from getting there.”
Why video captioning isn’t enough
Grassman clarified that American Sign Language (ASL) is a language in itself, and it’s critical during emergency situations. “If you’ve ever learned a second language, you probably don’t want to try and navigate an emergency in that second language,” she said. “Effective communication requires a qualified interpreter when one is needed. Somebody asked me why captions are not enough. It seems to be a popular question.
“Well, English is not the first language for most deaf people, especially those who use ASL to communicate. A deaf person may have basic or very good command of written English, but that does not mean written English will provide effective communication in a complicated, stressful or emergency situation.”
She also said video remote interpreters don’t always solve the problems. “It does give you immediate access to an interpreter, but there’s a lot of training that’s needed because it’s not always appropriate if someone also has vision problems or cognitive issues.”
Grassman said Montgomery County needs a system that will be in place many years from now whenever a deaf citizen needs access or assistance. “That’s the kind of legacy that we have the opportunity to build together.”
Are you interested in learning ASL?
For community members interested in learning American Sign Language, Pruyn said he would recommend the app Lingvano.
He also recommended Tennessee Association of the Deaf classes, which run over the course of eight weeks. Pruyn also mentioned his wife, Jessie Pruyn, is teaching ASL class through www.tnhomeschool.org.
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