Clarity ASL Interpreting Patrick Hoarty · NIC

Resources

Help with ASL interpreters

Simple answers about your rights and how to get an interpreter. Start by choosing who you are.

I am…

Pick the one that fits you best. You'll see a few key points and the links you need.

If you are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

  • Doctors, clinics, hospitals and other businesses that serve the public, of any size, must communicate clearly with you. When needed, they must give you a qualified interpreter or another aid that works for you.
  • The provider pays. They cannot charge you extra, even if an interpreter was booked and you could not make it. A normal missed-appointment fee is allowed only if all patients pay it.
  • A provider cannot make you bring a family member or friend to interpret.
  • Ask early. When you book, tell the office you need an ASL interpreter.

Helpful links

If you are DeafBlind

  • Businesses that serve the public must communicate clearly with you. For DeafBlind people, ADA aids can include a qualified tactile interpreter, Braille, or large print.
  • If video interpreting won't work because you can't see the screen well, an in-person interpreter may be needed.
  • The provider should talk with you about what works best for you. If something is not working, tell the provider why.
  • The provider pays. You do not have to pay for an interpreter.
  • On the RICDHH request form, you can mark that the person is DeafBlind.

Helpful links

If you are a family member or friend

  • A provider cannot make a Deaf person bring a family member or friend to interpret.
  • A provider cannot use a child to interpret, except in an emergency where someone's safety is in danger right now and no interpreter is available.
  • An adult who comes along may interpret only in an emergency, or if the Deaf person asks, the adult agrees, and it makes sense. Even then, not if they may not be fair or accurate, like when they are upset or have a personal stake.
  • If you are Deaf yourself and an appropriate person to talk with, like a Deaf parent at a child's visit, the provider must communicate clearly with you too.

Helpful links

If you are a business or medical provider

  • The ADA covers businesses of any size that serve the public, including doctors' offices. (The 15-employee rule is for ADA employment rules, not for serving patients.) You must provide an interpreter when one is needed to communicate clearly.
  • You choose an aid that works, and the ADA encourages asking the patient what works for them. A short, simple visit may go fine with written notes. A medical history or a serious diagnosis generally needs an interpreter.
  • The business pays. You may not charge the patient a fee or surcharge for the interpreter, even for a missed appointment (unless it's a normal no-show fee you charge all patients).
  • The only cost limit is an "undue burden" (significant difficulty or expense), judged against your size and resources. Even then, you must still offer another aid that works, if one is available.
  • Small businesses may qualify for a federal tax credit (IRS Form 8826). Interpreter costs count.

Helpful links

If you are a school

Special education rules (like IEPs) are separate laws and aren't covered here. These points come from ADA.gov and RICDHH.

  • Private schools are covered by the ADA as places that serve the public, whatever their size.
  • State and local governments must give primary consideration to the aid the person asks for, unless another aid is equally effective or it would be an undue burden.
  • When school staff talk with a Deaf parent about a child's progress, they must communicate effectively with that parent.
  • In Rhode Island, public school districts, private schools and charter schools can request interpreters through RICDHH. RICDHH can't guarantee coverage.
  • In Rhode Island, sign language interpreters must be licensed by the Department of Health, with a few limited exceptions.

Helpful links

Just looking? Here's the short version

  • Businesses of any size that serve the public, including doctors' offices, must communicate clearly with Deaf and Hard of Hearing people. For something complex, like a medical history or a serious diagnosis, that generally means a qualified interpreter. For simple exchanges, written notes may work.
  • The main exception is an "undue burden" (significant difficulty or expense). Even then, the business must offer another aid that works, if one is available.
  • The business pays for the interpreter, not the Deaf person.
  • In Rhode Island, sign language interpreters must be licensed by the Department of Health, with a few limited exceptions.

Helpful links

General rights and resources

The most useful links for everyone.

Full guides

These pages are general information, not legal or tax advice.