Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is more important than ever before, and CyraCom is ready to support your team. Our experts have analyzed the ADA’s communication requirements and can provide the language services you need to deliver inclusive accommodations to your customers or patients. Here’s an overview of our full Americans with Disabilities Act resource:
Background on the Americans with Disabilities Act
Want to learn more about how the ADA came to be and why it’s so significant to people with disabilities? We provide crucial information businesses and organizations need to know, including the five key provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, how disability is defined, and how to use more inclusive language to avoid offending people with disabilities.
What does the Americans with Disabilities Act say about communication and language services?
Our ADA resource focuses on communication and how language services should be used to accommodate people who require different communication methods. We’ve reviewed the legal content used in Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, including when organizations are required to provide language services compared to when entities are encouraged to do so.
Which language services help you comply with ADA regulations?
CyraCom’s Americans with Disabilities Act resource breaks down the language services you’ll need to support people who are Deaf or hard of hearing (DHOH), have limited vision, or have learning disabilities. Here are a few examples:
Language services for people who are DHOH
Sign language interpretation- Qualifications and certifications needed for American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters
- Video remote interpretation
- Specific performance standards that must be met
- Video captioning
Language services for people with limited vision
Large print materials- Also provides support for people who are elderly, dyslexic, or speak English as a second language
- Accessible digital content
- Adapt websites, software, and mobile apps for screen reader tools
- Section 508 compliance
- Braille
Language services for people with learning disabilities
Readability- Convert content into plain language to help people with learning disabilities better understand your message.
ADA Accommodation examples
If you work in industries such as healthcare, 9-1-1, law enforcement, or business, the ADA provides recommendations on how to accommodate disabilities.
Going beyond ADA requirements for greater inclusivity
While compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act is important, your organization can do more to be truly inclusive to people with disabilities rather than simply meeting legal requirements. Your team can go beyond ADA guidelines by:
1. Training your staff to work with individuals with disabilities confidently
Provide your team with extensive knowledge about different types of disabilities and how to accommodate people who navigate the world differently. Invite experienced, knowledgeable trainers to teach your team about the cultural nuances of disability and provide accommodations that respect individual identities without discrimination or prejudice.
2. Welcome diverse employees and clients to share their perspectives
Consult with individuals with disabilities to understand their specific needs and preferences to provide better service, both within your scope of work and for the employees performing the work. Implement adaptable policies in areas like scheduling, work arrangements, and leave policies to accommodate diverse needs.
3. Remove language barriers for individuals with communication differences
Beyond language services for people with communication disabilities, providing interpretation and translation services helps you expand your organization’s key messaging even further. For example, providing interpretation services for languages other than ASL or translating written text into plain language or languages other than English can help your organization flourish
Ready to start offering ADA-compliant language services?
Contact CyraCom’s experts to learn how you can communicate effectively
