Behind me... we are attending what is called 
an ASL (American Sign Language) social... 
it's official title is "Houston Hand Talk" 
American Sign Language Social... deaf people 
come and congregate and visit and enjoy 
each other's company while they eat. It takes 
place at different locations around the city 
about two times a month.

I am working as a community relations 
specialist who happens to be an ASL 
translator... so I am coming here and I am 
talking to deaf applicants who have been 
affected by Hurricane Ike and explaining 
FEMA programs and processes to them in 
sign language.

It's important because all people deserve the 
right to information and the deaf population 
here in Houston have trouble obtaining the 
information that FEMA gives out to all the 
hearing individuals in the city, so it's 
important that we, Nora Hassenpour, the other 
ASL translator for FEMA, come to these events 
and make our presence known in the community 
so that deaf people that were affected by 
Hurricane Ike, can get answers to their questions.
So far we've had a really good response, 
we've managed to help most people that 
we've come across, a lot of it is just 
clarification... they've had questions that are 
easily answered that are based on confusion and
conflicting reports, rumors that they've heard 
from their neighbor's brother's sister. So far, 
most of the deaf applicants we've really been 
able to help, just clarify what's been going on 
and put them in the right channels that they 
need to be in to get the help they need.