Americans with Disabilities Act-
Communications Accommodations Project

A Resource for Voluntary Compliance with the ADA

A Joint Program of

The American Foundation for the Blind
Governmental Relations Department
1615 M Street, N.W., Suite 250
Washington, DC 20036

and

National Center for Law and Deafness
Gallaudet University
800 Florida Avenue, N.E.
Washington, DC 20002


November 14, 1991

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Scott Marshall (AFB)
202-223-0101

and/or

Sy DuBow (NCLD)
202-651-5343

       FREE LEGAL ASSISTANCE AND INFORMATION ON COMPLYING WITH ADA
          AVAILABLE THROUGH NEW TELEPHONE INFORMATION LINES AND
                              PUBLICATIONS

WASHINGTON--Are hotels, hospitals, health care professionals, and
state and local governments prepared to overcome communication
barriers faced by persons with vision and hearing loss in
compliance with the new federal law, the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA)? Do persons with vision and hearing loss
understand their new rights under the ADA?

      According to the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and
the National Center for Law and Deafness of Gallaudet University
(NCLD), the answers to both questions are no. Because both
organizations are concerned that communication needs may be
ignored, they have jointly established a new information service
called the Americans with Disabilities Act-Communication
Accommodations Project (ADA-CAP). This project will provide free
legal advice and technical assistance to help businesses comply
with the new law and educate individuals with communication
disabilities about their new rights.

      Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, ADA-CAP will be
staffed by expert disability rights lawyers and qualified
paraprofessionals at AFB and NCLD. Two telephone information lines,
202-223-0101 (for AFB) and 202-651-5343 (for NCLD) in both voice
and TDD, will be open from 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (ET), Monday through
Friday, to answer questions and provide specific information on the
types of accommodations and auxiliary aids and services that can
provide effective communication for deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-
blind, blind or low vision individuals. The ADA-CAP plans to
distribute free informational brochures which will address real
life situations as presented by callers to the information lines.

      Six separate publications, available February 1992, will
target the needs of the hospitality and health care industries and
individuals with vision and hearing loss. Each publication will
discuss solutions and resources to provide effective communication
required by the ADA. Publications targeted to consumers will be
produced in accessible media for blind or visually impaired persons
and in an American Sign Language video for persons who are deaf.

      Says Scott Marshall who is director of AFB's governmental
relations department: "Acquiring and transmitting information that
requires the ability to see and/or hear is one of the greatest
communication barriers for persons with vision or hearing loss.
Although information has been made available with respect to
removing architectural barriers for persons with disabilities,
there is a general lack of knowledge and awareness in the community
concerning methods to address the communication barriers faced by
persons who have vision or hearing loss. ADA-CAP was established to
make it easier for businesses to understand and overcome those
communication barriers."

Marshall notes that this information will also be useful for local
agencies for persons with communication disabilities, employers,
educators of individuals with hearing and vision loss, mobility
instructors, civic organizations and public libraries.

Adds Sy DuBow, legal director of the NCLD: "ADA-CAP staff will
provide individual attention to each request for information and
guidance regarding the ADA-related questions. Project staff will be
available to assist in the negotiation of ADA-related disputes, as
well as make referrals as necessary to access resources within AFB
and Gallaudet University."

For example, these and other inquiries may be addressed through
ADA-CAP telephone information lines:

      * from a hotel establishment: Does the ADA require us to
      provide TDDs for our deaf patrons to make outgoing calls?
      Where can we obtain additional information about
      acquiring these telecommunication devices?

      * from a hotel owner: How do I obtain braille signage for
      my hotel? Where must such signs be placed?

      * from a county government: Individuals who have hearing
      or vision loss often come to the training courses given
      by our local government. What kinds of accommodations
      must we offer these individuals?

      *from a deaf individual: I need to see a doctor about my
      back. He works in a nearby clinic. I am afraid that I
      will not understand him without an interpreter. What are
      my rights under federal law?

      *from a blind dog guide user: A security guard at my
      local hospital would not permit me to enter the building
      with my dog guide. Are dog guides permitted in hospitals?

      AFB, a national nonprofit blindness organization, and the
National Center for Law and Deafness at Gallaudet University, the
first national legal center on deafness, both have proven
leadership and experience in dealing with issues related to the
ADA. AFB's governmental relations department, located in
Washington, DC since 1948, has actively represented the interests
of the blindness community with respect to the ADA since the
initial draft bill was introduced in 1988. NCLD lawyers assisted in
drafting the language of the ADA, provided continued technical
assistance to members of Congress, and worked extensively with
federal agencies on the ADA regulations.

      The mission of AFB is to enable persons who are blind or
visually impaired to achieve equality of access and opportunity
that will ensure freedom of choice in their lives. AFB accomplishes
this mission by taking a national leadership role in the
development and implementation of public policy and legislation,
information and educational programs, diversified products and
quality services. Headquartered in New York City, AFB maintains
regional offices in Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, Atlanta, New
York, and Washington, DC.

      The NCLD, a unit of Gallaudet University, was established in
1975 to address the legal problems of deaf and hard of hearing
people and serve as a national clearinghouse on legal issues
relating to deafness. From its inception, the NCLD has operated
telephone information lines to address compliance with laws
regarding accommodating the needs of persons who are deaf or hard
of hearing.

      Based in Washington, DC, with seven regional centers
nationwide, Gallaudet University is a private multipurpose
educational institution and resource center that serves deaf and
hard of hearing people around the world through a full range of
academic, research and public service programs.

To utilize the services of the ADA-CAP, call voice/TDD:

American Foundation for the Blind - 202-223-0101
National Center for Law and Deafness - 202-651-5343

                              ============

The text of a postcard accompanying the press release:

ADA-CAP

A joint venture of the American Foundation for the Blind
and the National Center for Law and Deafness 

Yes, I want to comply with the ADA.

Please send me information* that applies to

-- The hospitality industry, places of assembly
__ Health care professionals, hospitals
__ Blind consumers
__ Deaf consumers
__ Deaf-blind consumers

Name ____________________________________________________

Organization ____________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________

City, State, Zip ________________________________________

Telephone _______________________________________________

Total Number of Employees __ 1-14 __ 15-24 __ 25-100 __ 101-499
__ 500+

Funded by the U.S. Department of Justice

*available February 1992

