Employer Accommodations for Deaf Persons

Sep 14, 2016

MLC client, Deaf & Hearing Interpreting Services, Inc. (DHIS) has written the article below. DHIS, headquartered in Farmington Hills, is a “grass roots” organization established from a need for the deaf and hard-of-hearing to access services otherwise made impossible or difficult to access due to the communication barrier. They believe that all individuals should pursue as full a life as possible, whether at work or in the home, among family and friends, or when pursuing travel and recreation. As society has evolved, which has included the passage of landmark public accommodation laws that assist the deaf and hard of hearing, so has DHIS. They continue to add programs and services to best fulfill their founding vision.

The silent population of the Deaf are often overlooked for employment and services due to their disability, separate language, and separate culture. It is critical for employers and the public at large to provide accommodations for them so they have equal access to job opportunities, staff meetings, and services. One such accommodation is providing a sign language interpreter for interviews, trainings, staff meetings, and other services. Additionally, this meets the accommodation requirement under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The interpreter provides the communication facilitation for all persons involved, while meeting the needs of the Deaf individual so they are afforded the opportunity to participate and enjoy the communication taking place.

For more information on DHIS, please visit www.dhisonline.org.

Michigan Legislative Consultants is a bipartisan lobbying firm based in Lansing, Michigan. Our team of lobbyists and procurement specialists provide a wide range of services for some of the most respected companies in America. For more on MLC, visit www.mlcmi.com or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter.