Communication rights for people with disabilities
Your communication rights
If you have a hearing, vision, or speech disability, you have the right to get information in a way you can understand from:
- Service providers
- Businesses
- Landlords or housing providers
- Government agencies
- Your employer
When you visit or contact an organization, you should be able to:
- Get information
- Give information
- Communicate
Services you can receive
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), you can ask for auxiliary aids and services to help you communicate. Auxiliary aids and services are different ways to communicate. Friends or family members with you for support can also ask for auxiliary aids and services if they have a disability and they need to know the information being shared.
Learn more about who the ADA protects and what a disability is (according to the ADA).
Common examples of auxiliary aids and services
- Qualified interpreters
- Captioning
- Transcription services
- Magnification software
- Large print materials
- Audio recordings
More examples of auxiliary aids and services.
Making the request
You should ask for the business or organization to communicate in the way you will understand it best. Asking ahead of time when possible gives the business more time to meet your needs.
What the business or organization should provide
What the business or organization has to provide depends on how long and complicated the information is.
For example, if it is a short, simple conversation, passing written notes may be okay. If it is a conversation with a doctor about your health, the business or medical provider may need to have a qualified interpreter there.
Difference between private businesses and government organizations
A private business or nonprofit organization gets to decide what type of communication to provide, as long it is equally effective as what you ask for.
A local or state government organization has to provide the method of communication you ask for, unless it is too difficult or expensive.
Friends or family as interpreters
No business or organization should ask a friend or family member to act as your interpreter, unless:
- It is an emergency situation, or
- It is your wish for them to do so and
- Your friend or family member is okay with it
- It make sense in the situation
Who pays for auxiliary aids and services
You do not have to pay for the auxiliary aid or service the business or organization provides. The business or organization is responsible to pay. They can decide to offer to communicate in a way that is less difficult or expensive, as long as it is equally effective.
If the organization does not provide effective communication
If the organization will not communicate with you in a way that you can understand, you can:
- Show them the law to teach them their responsibilities
- Write a letter to the head of the business or organization
- Contact an advocacy organization
- Find your state’s Protection and Advocacy agency
- Visit your Statewide Independent Living Council website to find a local Center for Independent Living
- Contact a private attorney
- File a complaint with the US Department of Justice
Ask us
If you have questions about the ADA, we can help.