The Seattle Times reported the other day about musical interpreters, who use American Sign Language and a battery of gestures to "sign" live rock concerts for deaf fans. Remarkably, according to the article, concert venues are required by law to ensure the interpreters are provided. And the tours (read: bands) must may for their services. Deaf music "fans" say they enjoy the vibrations, sights, smells, and scene.

Groovy, man. But is this is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) madness gone too far? I say, let the deaf concert afficionados pay for the interpreters. In truth, this is strictly elective; not about civil rights, or disabled "rights," or any kind of rights. Not really, anyway.

Then again, maybe there's some sort of skewed cosmic justice at play. Why shouldn't the deaf be entitled to concert "interpreters," as long as the Chicago Public Schools are requiring blind students to pass a drivers education class and exam?

Coming soon: cooking classes for the recently deceased.

TECHNORATI TAGS: AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE, ASL, DEAF MUSIC FANS, MUSICAL INTERPRETERS, ROCK CONCERTS, CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DRIVERS EDUCATION CLASSES, BLIND STUDENTS