Breaking Barriers with ASL: How Martha is Expanding Access Through Tax Preparation

CIL wouldn’t be able to do everything we do without the help of our staff and volunteers. One of those volunteers is Martha. She is a VITA tax preparation specialist who works for Heart of Florida United Way. Martha utilizes her skills as a tax preparation specialist to help our Deaf and hard of hearing consumers with their taxes. Martha’s contributions are vital to our work with our Deaf consumers. We greatly appreciate the time she takes to help us and our consumers during tax season. CIL is the only site in central Florida where Deaf individuals can go to get their tax prep done and that is in large part due to Martha and her work with us. Martha has been doing her work as a tax prep specialist for many years, and she has built trust and rapport with those she works with. Last year Martha helped 132 people get tax refunds totaling more than $245,000. She is dedicated to helping the community and we are always grateful to have her assistance. 

But beyond her work as a tax specialist Martha provides relief to those in the Deaf community. She uses her talents to ease people through one of the more stressful parts of life. When interviewed, Martha explained the reason why she’s so passionate about helping others with their tax work is because when Deaf individuals go to many tax prep businesses, those businesses often don’t have the accommodations necessary to assist them. Taxes are a complicated subject, and if there isn’t clear communication, many Deaf individuals can get overwhelmed or confused during the process. As Martha explains it, “I’ve heard stories of people with disabilities that needed help, but do not know where to go to receive help. They feel stuck and limited. Here, people with disabilities have more access with assistance, as if the doors are opened to them.” Martha’s work has helped change people’s lives for the better. We are proud to have skilled volunteers like Martha who put their talents to use in assisting the Deaf community.