Deaf Grassroots Movement of Louisiana (DGM Louisiana) states that it is part of a national organization that is working through advocacy and education to address systemic barriers that thwart the full participation and integration of the deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing community in our larger society, such as a lack of access to communication, inferior education, establishing interpreter qualifications, and employment discrimination. DGM Louisiana organizes workshops for local deaf, deaf-blind, and hard of hearing communities throughout the state to educate them in regard to their rights under existing laws and teach self-advocacy skills.
Since April 15, 2015, the Louisiana Commission for the Deaf (Commission) has refused to provide and coordinate interpreting services for these workshops hosted by DGM Louisiana. Naomi DeDual, the Commission's Director, explained to DGM Louisiana that "given the political advocacy mission and agenda of [DGM Louisiana], that it would be a violation of state laws to utilize public funds for the support or promotion of political rallying or lobbying."
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