Hearing Loss and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was legislated in 1990. It defines hearing loss as a disability. The ADA assures 'communication access' as well as mobility access. Yet, many Americans with hearing loss do not realize what their rights are under the ADA.

The Hearing Loss Assn. of America (HLAA) has been involved in the development of the ADA since the legislation was first discussed in the mid 1980s. When discussion began it focused on visible disabilities. Thankfully, HLAA and other organizations that support people with invisible disabilities were invited to participate in the writing of the bills that led to the passing of the ADA in 1990.

HLAA was founded in November 1979, was was a new kid on the block when this all started. Thankfully this new organization that represented hard of hearing people was there. This organization gave hard of hearing people a voice that had not been heard prior to its founding. Yes, the Deaf population was actively involved then. However, their sole focus for communication access was on American Sign Language (ASL). These two populations have some overlapping needs, but are very different in others. Hard of hearing people want to hear, and consider their hearing loss a 'disability'. The culturally Deaf population often refers to their deafness as a 'difference', and are not interested in being cured.

Thank the hard of hearing population for pushing the development of better hearing technology and medical research that has developed cochlear implants, etc.

To have your rights met under the ADA, you need to know the parameters of the legislation. I've attached information below that might be worth reading.

So the question is: "Do You Know Your Rights Under the ADA?"

The landmark civil rights legislation that prohibits discrimination of people with disabilities is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law in 1990.
The ADA has been opening doors for many people with disabilities over the last 32 years. There are also many other federal, state and local laws that protect the rights of people with hearing loss and other disabilities. You should check with your local legislators for disability rights laws in your state.
Some of the ADA communication requirements that HLAA helped to enact:
• Employers with more than 15 employees must provide reasonable accommodations on request, including assistive listening systems in the workplace for employees with hearing loss.
• Public places must provide effective communication for people with hearing loss. This may include hearing loops, captioning and CART, or a sign language interpreter.
• Health care settings like hospitals and doctor’s offices are included in public places that must accommodate people with hearing loss.
Hearing loss is an “invisible disability,” and accommodations may not be obvious.
• Know your rights https://www.hearingloss.org/programs-events/advocacy/know-your-rights/?
• Ask for appropriate accommodations
• Notify authorities if accommodations are not available