Saturday, March 9, 2024, marked the 18th anniversary of American Sign Language (ASL) Tax Day in Portland, Maine. Stakeholder Partnerships, Education & Communication (SPEC) partners provided free tax preparation services to 44 taxpayers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Participating partners included CA$H Greater Portland, Disability Rights Maine, Maine Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, and the University of Southern Maine.

ASL Tax Day, EITC Awareness Day, and many other events highlight the importance of the work we do—not only within the Maine Deaf Community, but in communities across the nation.

Partnerships make it work!

Disability Rights Maine, a protection and advocacy agency, enlisted a volunteer who is deaf and an ASL interpreter who worked with CA$H Greater Portland to become IRS-certified to prepare tax returns in ASL. There were also 34 volunteer ASL interpreters (and ASL student interns) who participated in the day’s events.

ASL Tax Day, EITC Awareness Day and so many others validate the importance of what we do, not just within our Maine Deaf Community but in so many communities throughout the nation.