I am an Attorney or part of the Legal Community

Information for the Attorney, Police Officers/Law Enforcement and Court.

Representing a Deaf or Hard of Hearing Client

As an attorney representing a client who is deaf or hard of hearing, under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is your responsibility to ensure effective communication with your client. This can be achieved through the use of a sign language interpreter, CART, or other methods. Here are a few links to help you better understand your obligation:

• Communication Access Info for Lawyers

MCLD maintains a list of attorneys willing to serve deaf and hard of hearing clients in the Midwestern States that we serve. If you wish to join MCLD’s attorney referral list, please contact MCLD for more information.

Police Officers/Law Enforcement

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the obligation of the state to provide an accommodation for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. More information can be found at the following:

• Communication Access Information for Police/Law Enforcement

Information for the Courts

Under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the obligation of state and local courts to provide an accommodation for a person who is deaf or hard of hearing. The person requesting the accommodation can be a plaintiff, defendant, juror, witness, attorney or spectator. For more information about your responsibility under Title II, please review this page from NAD.

For federal courts, there is a rule that requires an accommodation to be made. To read the rule, please refer to this page.