Tax season is a little more difficult for those who are deaf. Working with accountants who are also deaf can make things easier.

“English is my first language, so that’s why I was a little bit, like of a struggle,” said Charity Baca who is deaf.

Everything is a little different for Charity. Most people don’t realize it, but English is a second language to much of the deaf community.

That can make working with people who can hear difficult. With something as important as your taxes, it gets really tough.

“I did my taxes through a hearing provider. It was more complicated. It was more like, the questions were confusing because I wasn’t sure,” said Baca.

Luckily, she found a company that can do her taxes and speak her language.

“Doing taxes and accounting, there’s not really a big difference there, it’s just for me a way to work with the deaf community and I thought I’m going to grab this,” said Jason Gunderson, a deaf tax preparer for Deaf Tax.

Deaf Tax is deaf-owned and -operated tax and accounting firm. And it's the only deaf-owned tax firm in the country.

“I’m able to see how deaf customers, how they appreciate the information that they maybe did not have access to before, that they didn’t understand, that they weren’t willing to ask their preparers,” said Gunderson.

The services provided by Deaf Tax are very popular in the deaf community, more popular than founder Joshua Beal anticipated

“About 2015, we started putting videos up on Facebook. And at the time, it was me and my partner Charles, just two of us. We were overwhelmed we were working nonstop,” said Beal.

Beal founded Deaf Tax in 2007. Since then, its core principals have remained the same, providing a needed service to the community.

“Anytime you can communicate in your natural language, it’s always a big benefit. Another thing is a lot of clients now have access to information that they didn’t know about before. I have a great deal of pride, a great deal of respect for my community. I feel like I am doing something very important,” said Beal.

And it really is a needed service.

“This book shows that there are 12 deaf CPAs in the whole United States, only 12. Now, almost all of these CPAs, they work for a corporation or school. They’re not available to the deaf community,”

And for everyone from Josh to Charity it’s about increased access to everyday services.

“I’m trying get past just the tax, but financial information, how to save money, how to cut down your interest rate. So I feel like this is the platform to empower the deaf community financially,” said Beal.

“They are tattoo shops or art companies there are many that are just starting right now and they’re starting to grow as deaf businesses or deaf owners starting to set up their establishments and I’m really glad because we need to grow and it’s been a struggle,” said Baca.

CINCINNATI — A Cincinnati woman said she has been struggling to get into Cincinnati State’s nursing program due to some of the requirements for its students.

Justine Jones has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair, which creates an obstacle for her to meet the college's rule that nursing students must be registered as State Tested Nursing Assistants. Ohio requires those individuals to be able to lift 25 pounds. Now, she's petitioning the college to change its requirements.

“It was definitely heartbreaking when they told me no the first time,” Jones said. “I’ve been in and out of the hospital so much, I was just, like, this is what I want to do. I want to give this care to patients,” said Jones.

She said Cincinnati State’s two-year program is her quickest and most affordable pathway toward a nursing career in the area.

“Nursing is so broad that not every nurse is going to be at a patient’s bedside trying to help them get out of bed,” said Jones. “I can be in a doctor’s office or a case manager for people with disabilities.”

University of Cincinnati Blue Ash, for example, does not require the state-tested status. However, the UC Blue Ash Nursing Department requires students to have the ability to perform certain physical functions. According to the student handbook, "The student must be able to safely and competently push, pull, lift and transfer adult and pediatric patients to chair, commode or other locations, as well as operate health-related equipment."

A spokesperson told WCPO UC Blue Ash College has an essential functions form that must be signed by a health care provider to ensure the student can provide safe competent care. The student is required to have a physical exam before they start the program, annually while in the program, along with immunizations, etc.
The physical should indicate that the student can complete the tasks on the essential functions form -- tasks like administering CPR, medications, and operation medical equipment, among others. If they cannot complete all tasks listed, UC Blue Ash College said it works with the UC Accessibility Resources office and clinical partners to see what accommodations we can provide.

Southern State Community College also requires nursing students to meet physical requirements. The student handbook says students often must carry objects weighing 25-50 pounds.

Cincinnati attorney Richard Goldberg says a public school receiving public funds could face a lawsuit if it is found to discriminate based on disabilities.

“She could ask for lost wages, lost future wages and attorney fees,” said Goldberg.

Cincinnati State responded to Jones’ concern in a written statement:

"Cincinnati State cannot comment on any individual student's situation out of respect for the student's privacy and as required by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). In general, for every educational accommodation requested, the college undertakes a deliberative process to determine whether an accommodation to a course or program can be made in light of the competencies and skills expected of the field, such as in nursing, culinary, IT, welding, etc."

Jones already works for a hospital in scheduling and said she'll find out Monday if Cincinnati State accepts her. She e-mails with WCPO in which staff point to the policy and accommodations that must be considered.

“Even if I don't get into the program, I’m hoping that they’ll at least consider changing their policies so that someone after me can get in and achieve their dream,” she said.