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Deaf and Hard of
Hearing
Services
Equal
Access, Barrier Free Communication
And
Total Participation
Historically,
persons who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing have been denied equal access to the
mainstream of community life. Many of our Deaf and Hard of Hearing residents
in the Hudson Valley experience barriers when trying to access services,
gainful employment, and even accessible medical care. Independent Living is
dedicated to the removal of such barriers and advocates ensuring that the
variety of life’s choices and opportunities are equally available to all
individuals.
With the Deaf and
Hard of Hearing population numbering in the thousands, Independent Living, Inc
remains committed to serving this valued segment of our community.
We provide:
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Advocacy & ADA Consultation
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Deaf
and Hard of Hearing Awareness
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Early
intervention with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
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Deaf
and Hard of Hearing in-service training to employers, public servants,
provider agencies and school districts
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Service
Coordination & Case Management
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Vocational & Technical
Support
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Independent
living skills training
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ASL classes, Social Events
and much more!
OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS
INCLUDE:
Office
of Vocational and Educational Services for People with Disabilities
Mid-Hudson
Valley Club of the Deaf
Mid-Hudson
Valley Civic Association of the Deaf
Mid- Hudson
Interpreting Services
Taconic
Resources
Resource
Center for Accessible Living
Professional
Learning Center
New
York School for the Deaf
Orange
County Department of Mental Health
Orange County
Department of Social Services
Sign Language Resources, inc
Human Rights
Commission
Legal Rights for Persons who are Deaf
(from NAD.com website)
ADA Q&A
FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
Doctors
To refer others to this page, please use:
http://www.nad.org/doctors
Are Doctors Required to Provide Interpreters for Medical Visits and Other
Medical-Related Situations?
The short answer
is yes. This is covered under the Title III of the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA). If you feel that you need an interpreter in order to
understand what your doctor/health care provider is telling you, then the
doctor/health care provider is required to provide you with one. It is best to
contact your doctor/health care provider directly and tell them, prior to your
appointment, that you need an interpreter. Do not hire your own interpreter and
expect the doctor/health care provider to pay your interpreter for you. You may
run into problems that way.
The doctor/health care provider must
pay for the cost of an interpreter, even if the cost of the interpreter is more
than the cost of your visit. The doctor/health care provider is expected to
handle the cost of interpreter as a normal business expense or as part of the
overhead costs of operating a business.
If your
doctor/health care provider tries to encourage you to bring in a signing family
member or a friend as a way to "save costs",
say no. Family members
and friends cannot be expected to be neutral and sign everything they hear. They
may be emotionally or personally involved with you and this may affect their
interpreting. Using them as interpreters can also cause problems in maintaining
your confidentiality as a patient.
For more detailed information, check
other legal information on this site.
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