Sanctions unlikely for Montreal Jazz Fest after refusing to accommodate deaf music fan

The Montreal International Jazz Festival should not face repercussions for refusing to provide a sign-language interpreter for a deaf concert-goer last year, according to a recommendation received by Quebec's Human Rights Commission.

NatashaLuttrell, who is deaf,reached out to the jazz festival ahead of a June concert by Ontario bandWalk Off The Earth.

She wanted them to supply an American Sign Language(ASL) interpreter, as well as a designated space so deaf audience members could see the interpreter.

The jazz festival told her that sign language interpretationwas not a service they offered, sothe band ended up providing one at their own expense.

But without a designated space,Luttrellsaid she wasn't able to fully appreciate the show because she couldn't see the interpreter.

"The whole experience was terrible,"Luttrellsaid in an email. "I missed the concert and wound up in a giant ball, crying because I did not have a view of the stage and was unable to communicate with anyone."

A question of access

She filed a complaint afterward with the Human Rights Commission."The problem is that deaf individuals have physical access to many places, but lack language access,"Luttrellsaid.

"I can go to a town hall [meeting] and have no idea what the elected official is saying. Is that democracy?"

But in a recent letter toLuttrell, the evaluation advisor in charge of her filesaid: "Nothing indicates that you could not get the services offered by the Jazz Festival."

The advisor added that she intended to recommend that the commission close Luttrell's file.

Luttrellsaid she was"extremely upset and alarmed" upon receiving the news.

The festival responds

In a statement toCBCNews, the Montreal International Jazz Festival said it would be happy to accommodate all artists who wantto hire sign-language interpreters.

"We will make a point of helping them in the process so that the experience would be beneficial for all festival-goers," saidIsabelleLavigne, a festival spokesperson.

But she also said that it would be too costly for the festival to offerinterpretation services for all its300 outdoor concerts.

Luttrellsent another letter to the commission last month, outlining a number reasons she believesher original complaint should be reviewed. She has yet to receive a response.