article_snippet: Abreham Zemedagegehu knew Abreham Zemedagegehu was in jail, but Abreham Zemedagegehu didn't know why.
article_snippet: Abreham Zemedagegehu spent the next six weeks in jail, unable to communicate with Abreham Zemedagegehu jailers because Abreham Zemedagegehu is deaf.
article_snippet: I felt like I was losing my mind,' Abreham Zemedagegehu said through an interpreter in an interview at Abreham Zemedagegehu lawyer's office. '
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu, who is homeless, is a U.S. citizen who was born in Ethiopia.
article_snippet: Abreham Zemedagegehu grew up using Ethiopian Sign Language.
article_snippet: Abreham Zemedagegehu has learned American Sign Language, but Abreham Zemedagegehu has never learned more than rudimentary written English.
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu's ordeal began Feb. 2, 2014, as Zemedagegehu sought a warm place to sleep at Reagan National Airport.
article_snippet: Jailed: Zemedagegehu spent the next six weeks in jail, unable to communicate with Zemedagegehu jailers because Zemedagegehu is deaf.
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu says Zemedagegehu requested an ASL interpreter to explain what was happening, but instead was taken to the Arlington jail for processing.
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu said the booking process was bewildering, with someone speaking on a video screen and Zemedagegehu not understanding what was happening.
article_snippet: It was not until Zemedagegehu was arraigned Feb. 4, and a court interpreter was present, that Zemedagegehu understood the charge against Zemedagegehu.
article_snippet: When Zemedagegehu was offered an opportunity to communicate, Zemedagegehu said the Arlington jail provided a TTY device.
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu needed instead access to a videophone or video relay service that is more commonly used, Zemedagegehu said.
article_snippet: David Kidwell, director of the jail for the sheriff, also declined to comment specifically on Zemedagegehu's care, but generally defended the use of a TTY machine. '
article_snippet: Zemedagegehu said Zemedagegehu doesn't understand why it was so difficult for the legal system to accommodate Zemedagegehu with an interpreter. '
article_snippet: the legal system to accommodate him with an interpreter know better,' Zemedagegehu said.
article_snippet: Caroline Jackson, an attorney with the National Association of the Deaf, who is helping on Zemedagegehu's case, said cases like Caroline Jackson, an attorney with the National Association of the Deaf, who is helping on Zemedagegehu's case are 'distressingly common.