state & local government (ADA Title II)

Episode 59: Voting Rights and Accessible Polling Places

Episode 47: Emergencies: How to Prepare for Them and What To Do Afterwards

Episode 37: Employment Law Developments and Advocacy Strategies For Workers And Job Seekers With Disabilities

Episode 36: Voting Access: What People with Disabilities Need to Know

Episode 33: Voting Access: What Poll Workers Need to Know

Episode 32: Equal Access in Emergencies: During and After

Episode 28: Post-Secondary Education and Students with Disabilities

Episode 16: The National ADA Symposium 2015

Are the effective communication requirements different for a state or local government than for a private business?

State and local governments must give primary consideration to what the person with a disability requests. So if this same person who is Deaf plans to attend a City Council meeting and requests an interpreter, the city must provide it unless doing that would somehow be impossible - maybe because the request was just made the morning of the meeting and no interpreter could be found on such short notice. However, the city must make a good faith effort to secure the services of an interpreter.

If I am using my facility to host a job fair, must I provide a sign language interpreter?

When is an organization or business required to provide an interpreter?

Public entities and private businesses have responsibilities under the ADA to furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to ensure effective communication with individuals with disabilities. A qualified sign language interpreter is considered an auxiliary aid or service.