7-15-97

Greetings Everyone,

     I have taped and reviewed the story of the deaf couple struggling
to keep their first born child which was aired on NBC's Dateline last
night.

     I find it despicable and disgusting that the State of Michigan
would rely heavily on information from Diane Knickerbocker, a
mentally unstable woman who has had her children taken away from 
her, to act against Gerald and Keri Webb and take their first born
child, Angie, away from them.

     The state of Michigan along with Social Services' Don Venema 
failed to have interpreters with him when he went to investigate 
Knickerbockers' claims that the Webbs were neglecting their 
child, Angie.  Mr. Venema relied on Diane Knickerbocker to 
communicate with the Webbs.  Take note that family members who
are usually emotionally involved with their Deaf relatives DO NOT 
MAKE GOOD INTERPRETERS.  Federal and State law required Don Venema
to bring interpreters with him when he went to check on the Webbs.
Don FAILED to bring them so the State of Michigan and their Social
Services Department is at fault.

     This reminds me of a quote by Kevin McLeod, a Deaf writer,
"Some hearing parents worry about the Deaf community "taking their 
children away from them", but I [deaf] realize now that this happens 
to Deaf adults with hearing children ALL THE TIME!" 

     I want to see that the Webbs are compensated for this extra
burden of raising their children because the State of Michigan
faulted when they relied heavily on information from someone with
mental problems like Diane Knickerbocker ,who tried to shake and bake 
a cat and put a small dog in a microwave, to base their decisions to 
keep Angie away from the Webbs.  I also want the state of Michigan
to wake up and see the mess they're creating for this almost helpless
Deaf couple.
     
     I want to express my thanks to NBC's Dateline and Sara James
for bringing this to our attention and also I am appreciative that 
they had an interpreter present at the televised interview with 
Mr. and Mrs. Webb.  Also thanks to Ann Mandt who represented the
Webbs to clarify what was happening to the Webbs. 

     I also want to stress the importance of having interpreters
present at meetings with social services agencies, law enforcement, 
lawyers, doctors, dentists, and all meetings with reporters and
investigators.

Thank you very much!

Richard Roehm 
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 Richard Roehm  
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Deaf Watch will continue to aggressively pursue justice, fairness, 
and equality for the Deaf Community as it has been doing since November 
1996.  We have chosen that EDUCATION is the best way accomplish this
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