What do we want them to do?

Fund and mandate American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation for all recreation programs upon request, ensuring full access for deaf and hard of hearing children.

Petition Statement:
We, the undersigned residents, families, and allies, call on municipalities to provide equitable access to its publicly funded recreation programs for deaf and hard of hearing children by ensuring the availability of American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.

Coquitlam currently limits ASL interpretation to just two weeks of summer camp and two concurrent programs—leaving deaf children excluded from most opportunities available to their hearing peers. This practice violates the spirit of the BC Human Rights Code and the Accessible British Columbia Act, and runs contrary to the values of equity and inclusion.

Many other municipalities in BC have no policy regarding sign language interpretation and simply do not provide equal access to deaf and hard of hearing children.

Every child deserves the chance to participate, belong, and thrive in their own community. We urge Coquitlam mayor Richard Stewart and City Council to allocate the necessary resources to provide ASL interpretation for all recreation programs upon request, so no child is left out due to their disability.

Let’s build a truly inclusive community—where every child can play, grow, and connect.