AUGUSTA, Maine - More than 100 Mainers who are deaf, hard of hearing, or both deaf and blind, converged on Augusta today as part of a national civil rights rally that took place at more than 45 state capitols.
The protestors marched around the state Capitol holding handmade signs as part the National Rally for Deaf Rights.
Curt Barsness, of Ellsworth, said the aim of the rally is to raise awareness of problems facing the deaf community, which he said show no signs of improving.
Some of the issues concerning the group include the disappearance of American Sign Language as the language of instruction for deaf children, denial of employment opportunities, discrimination in the workplace, lack of access to public services or appropriate accommodations in hospitals and doctors' offices.
The rally was part of the national Deaf Grassroots Movement that Barsness said is working to support participants' efforts to access opportunities in education, employment and linguistics.