Introduction to your communication rights VLOG series Part 1

TRANSCRIPT: American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Title 1,2,3 and Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973, are all federal laws. Those laws enforce the requirement for an effective communication for individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. The key word is effective. That means that each individual has a different communication need. For example, some Deaf or Hard of Hearing people, written communication are effective because they can understand the written language. For other Deaf and Hard of Hearing, who for example, their native language is sign language and they do not understand a written communication fully and that is not effective communication for them. Then a sign language interpreter would be considered a reasonable accommodation under law. If a business or place failed to provide effective communication to Deaf or Hard of Hearing person then it means they violated the federal law. Effective communication can mean many different things and not just an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter. It can also mean Certified Deaf Interpreter (CDI), oral interpreter, assistive devices for a person to help them hear better (for example a FM system), written communication, or many other ways that can be considered as an effective communication. Also many Deaf and Hard of Hearing people, they assume "We have ADA and Section 504 laws to support and require a certified sign language interpreter." Just to let you know that the term "certified" was not mentioned anywhere in those federal laws. The federal law does not require or support a certified sign language interpreter. But it is important to make sure that the sign language interpreter is providing a complete effective communication for Deaf and Hard of Hearing person and that the Deaf or Hard of Hearing do completely understand everything that is going on in the conversation. If the Deaf or Hard of Hearing does completely understand everything that is going on in the conversation then the requirement for an effective communication is met. We also will have four different vlogs explaining more in depth about ADA law Title 1, 2, 3, and Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973. I will explain those four parts in different VLOGS. If a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person needs a sign language interpreter for a specific place or business, a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person need to contact that specific place or business to inform them that they need a sign language interpreter and to let them know what date, time, and any another additional information that they might need to know for that appointment, and also to inform them who to contact for providing an interpreter so they can set up an interpreter. Also, it is not the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person's responsibility to schedule, hire or pay for an interpreter. It is the responsibility of the business to contact, hire and pay for the interpreter. It is really important to understand, if the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person contacts the agency directly for scheduling an interpreter, the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person will be charged for the interpreter fee. That is why it is the responsibility of the business to contact the agency, since they are responsible to pay for it. In addition, the Deaf or Hard of Hearing person should follow-up. A few days or a few weeks later, depending on time of the appointment, call the business and check if they have been able schedule an interpreter. If they have an interpreter in place, then everything is fine and will be ready on the day of the appointment. However, if they do not, then you will need to do something about that situation. Please see the next vlog discussing the ADA Title 1.

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