Communication Access|remote

Earlier this year, the Justice Department finalized regulations on Accessibility of Web Information and Services of State and Local Government Entities, establishing a technical standard for accessibility of web content and mobile apps provided or made available by entities covered by Title II of the ADA. State and local governments provide many of their services, programs, and activities through…

Hosted by the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center in February 2024, this archived webinar provides an overview, highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of telehealth accessibility for Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Deaf-Blind patients. The panel guides you through real-life scenarios, showcasing successful approaches as well as areas that need improvement. From effective communication…

The Justice Department and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) partnered to publish guidance on the protections in federal nondiscrimination laws requiring that telehealth be accessible to people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons. Protections for people with disabilities include among other things effective communication. Providers must communicate effectively…

Federal disability discrimination laws like the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibit discrimination against people with disabilities and call for equal access to health care services, whether in-person or via a telemedicine appointment. Equal access to telehealth can be achieved by modifying procedures and providing additional support to…

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an Order (Declaratory Ruling, Order, Report and Order, and Order on Reconsideration) restoring Net Neutrality and bringing back a national standard for broadband reliability, security, and consumer protection, effective July 22, 2024. For People with Disabilities, the Order will: Better safeguard access to IP-based telecommunications relay…

In this article, authors Zina Jawadi, Stephen McInturff, and Alexander Chern make a case for providing captioning on telehealth platforms, noting: The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that health institutions select telehealth platforms with live captioning as a feature and provide closed captioning for pre-recorded patient video resources. Yet, automatic or real-time quality…

In this article, authors Zina Jawadi, Stephen McInturff, and Alexander Chern make a case for providing captioning on telehealth platforms, noting: The Department of Health and Human Services recommends that health institutions select telehealth platforms with live captioning as a feature and provide closed captioning for pre-recorded patient video resources. Yet, automatic or real-time quality…

On June 12, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released a Report and Order in response to reports that video conferencing services lack—or have inferior—captioning; ineffective display of sign language interpreters; inability of blind or low vision users to find and use volume controls; and insufficient user control of accessibility tools. Further, there is no easy way to use…

The Department of Justice updated its regulations for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in April 2024. There are specific requirements to ensure state and local governments' web content and mobile applications (apps) are accessible to people with disabilities. This fact sheet gives a summary of those requirements. The summary is designed to provide introductory information…