Sign language interpreters making sure Mayor Bowser’s message gets out to deaf, hard of hearing DC residents
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — Hallie Simmons and Chidi Olujie are American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters for D.C. Mayor Murial Bowser.
They work out of the Office of Disability Rights, and they have been working together full time for the District for less than a year, but they have built and embraced the collective responsibility.
Olujie is deaf and says every day is special and important.
“Before I started working here,” Olujie said. “I knew the responsibility that went with it, and I love what I do.
Simmons said there are times when they can prepare before they provide sign language interpretation.
“The deaf and hard of hearing deserve full access to what the mayor is saying,” Simmons said. “It is an opportunity to give back to the community that has given so much to me.”
Both say they continue to get better as a team so they can serve the nearly 23,000 deaf and hard of hearing residents in the District.
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