Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 20, 2002
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
CRT
(202) 616-2777
TDD (202) 514-1888

RENO, NEVADA AGENCY AGREES TO PROVIDE EQUAL ACCESS FOR DEAF PERSONS
TO REHABILITATION PROGRAM FOR SUBSTANCE ABUSE


WASHINGTON, D.C. - - The Department of Justice today announced an agreement with a Reno, Nevada substance abuse rehabilitation program that will now provide deaf participants an equal opportunity to join its rehabilitation program for chemically dependent women. STEP 2, a non-profit organization that provides rehabilitation services, and a service provider for deferral programs offered by Nevada courts, has agreed to provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids for persons who are deaf or have speech disabilities and to adopt other new policies to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Today's settlement agreement resolves a disability discrimination complaint filed by a deaf person who uses sign language for communication and who was admitted into STEP 2's residential rehabilitation program for several weeks. Although the woman had no other effective means of communication, no sign language interpreter was provided. In the agreement, STEP 2 denied any discrimination, but cooperated fully with the Department of Justice's investigation.

"The Americans with Disabilities Act is intended to ensure persons with disabilities have the same access to programs, services, or activities offered to others, including rehabilitation programs like this one," said Ralph F. Boyd, Jr., Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. "When a service provider fails to communicate effectively with a person with a disability who is participating in the program, the benefits of the program are effectively denied. It is unlawful to refuse to take appropriate steps to provide effective communication."

Under the agreement, STEP 2 will secure appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including qualified sign language interpreters, when necessary to ensure effective communication with a participant with disabilities. STEP 2 will also adopt a written policy to assure effective communication that includes providing the public with information on how to request auxiliary aids and services, information about how requests for interpreters and auxiliary aids will be processed, cooperation in determining the appropriate auxiliary aids, and prompt responses and information about the status of each request.

"The cooperation of STEP 2 led to the creation of this policy, which serves as a model to other agencies providing substance abuse treatment around the country," Boyd added. "Programs like STEP 2 provide a valuable service and are an important adjunct to law enforcement and the judicial system. It is important that each of these programs be accessible to persons with disabilities as well as to others in the community."

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that public accommodations take appropriate steps, including the provision of auxiliary aids and services, to ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities.

Additional information about the ADA can be found by calling the Department's toll-free information line at (800) 514-0301, (800) 514-0383 (TDD) or the Department of Justice website at www.usdoj.gov/crt/ada/adahom1.

###

02-165