A complaint by a deaf Connecticut resident has led to the U.S. Attorney’s office reaching a settlement with the state Department on Aging. The complaint was filed under the American with Disabilities Act.
The complainant said the Department on Aging failed to provide effective communication during certain programs and meetings by failing to make available sign language interpreters or appropriate auxiliary aids. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, the department is working cooperatively with the Department of Justice to develop and amend its policies and practices to ensure compliance with the ADA and the Department of Justice’s implementing regulations.
The ADA requires “public entities,” including state and municipal agencies, to ensure effective communication with qualified individuals with disabilities. Under the agreement, a person who is deaf or hard of hearing will be able to benefit from the same services as every other person. For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, auxiliary aids include qualified sign language or oral interpreters, use of relay services, computer-assisted real-time transcription, and, for simple communications, the exchange of written notes.
The settlement agreement requires the department to:
- Ensure its policies and practices are nondiscriminatory, and provide effective communication for people with communication disabilities, including the provision of sign language interpreters;
- Post a notice of the policy in public areas;
- Train staff on the policies; and,
- Ensure that appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified interpreters, and specifically tactile interpreters, are made available to all individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.
