Meet the First Deaf West Wing Receptionist
Leah Katz-Hernandez gives a tour of the White House on 26th anniversary of ADA.
— -- In celebration of the 26th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the White House released a video of the first deaf White House receptionist giving a tour of the residence.
Leah Katz-Hernandez first interned at the White House in 2010 and President Obama talked about her at the 25th anniversary last year of the ADA, a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, service, transportation and more against people who have disabilities.
“We call her ROTUS,” the president explained. “I’m POTUS, this is VPOTUS and that’s ROTUS. And ROTUS is the first deaf American to hold that job. She is poised, she is talented -- and, as she puts it, a lot of her accomplishments may not have been possible without the ADA."