faire_jour

So, I am planning a birthday party for Miss Kat and all her Deaf friends. I would love a quick idea on who has to pay for the interpreter in this kind of situation.

What if we are going to a publicly funded place like the zoo and they are providing a tour? Do I have the right to ask for a interpreter? If I do, do they pay for it, or do I pick up the tab?

Deafness

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jillio

The terp is your responsibility.

Jiro

ah.. thanks for answer. I've always wondered about that situation as FJ stated. I guess my scenario is different - the business conference I'm attending in Seattle is providing the accommodation for me.

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jillio

That's because it is a business conference.

Jiro

what about charity program? or special event (such as exhibition at art museum)?

just naming out some scenarios so I can get some better idea and same for other ADers.

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jillio

It would depend on a couple of things. But a birthday party is a private event, and therefore, the person arranging the private event is responsible for providing the terp. Just like at a wedding. The bride and groom must contract for the terp. The church is not responsible. If it were a church service, then the church would be responsible for the terp.

Just because you decide to have a private celebration in a public place does not mean that the public place assumes repsonsibilty for accommodations for things like terps.

faire_jour

What about places like a musuem? If they do guided tours, how do interpreters work for that?

Jolie77

If it is at a museum that provides a guided tour - The museum are to provide and to pick up the tab for the interpreters.

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AlleyCat

Any place that receives any government funding has to provide for a interpreter. So if any museums, zoos, etc., whether it is a private or public tour, has to pay for an interpreter. Anybody correct me if I'm wrong.

shel90

I dont know about private tours but public tours, I am pretty certain they are required to pick up the tab for a terp. However, if someone has a birthday party at any of these places, I wonder who is responsible for the terp.

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Lighthouse77

let's just hope you can find a volunteer. Maybe one of the kids' mother can do it.

it doesn't hurt to ask the zoo what accommodation they have available for people who are deaf or HOH.

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Babyblue

Even being a paid private party. Being in a public Zoo. I would think the place, would still have to accommodate. It would only be fair if they did. Due to the deafies have to pay the same price, to have a private party, as the hearies do.

jillio

Depends. Are you just going in as a customer of the museum, or are you using their facility for a private party that would require that a tour in addition to the one that they would normally provide for the public be necessary?

jillio

Actually, any place that receives government funding has to provide for reasonable accommodation. That may or may not include a terp. However, they are only required to do such when the services are open to the public. If it is a private tour, they are not required to do so. That isn't to say that you are wrong,just that there are qualifications.

jillio

They would have to accommodate as long as the tour was open to the general public.

jillio

Exactly. It is an issue of private vs public. Any services that are open to the general public must be accommodated for. Services that are only open to a specific private party do not. That doesn't mean that they won't include a terp, and add it to the cost of the private party. It just means that they are not legally mandated to do so.

jillio

Yes, when the tour is open to the general public.

The ADA is intended to make those services available to the general public available to those with disabilities. That is what accommodation is all about. If the non-disabled public can access it, then accommodation must be provided allowing the disabled public to access it. With certain restrictions. For instance, they only have to provide "reasonable accommodation" which means that, under the letter of the law, they can simply provide a print brochure describing the tour, rather than actually providing a terp. And also, only if they have 15 or more employees.

AlleyCat

Thanks for the clarification!

jillio

No problem!

Babyblue

So.. if a bunch of people in a wheel chair pays for a private party. They would not have the access as a walkie would? Even though public places requires it. Under the ADA law. So a private party, at a public place should allow the same access for the deafies that requests it. **at a public place** I can see if it was a private party at home or a private club. but any place with public access, are required under the ADA law. Such as Doctors offices, hospitals. They are open to the public. but have private appointments. I feel they fall under the same category.

jillio

Well, doctors offices offer services to the public. And the majority do not have a full time permanent terp. However, they do have full time, permanent wheel chair ramps. You are also into the number of employees here. A doctor's office with fewer than 15 employees is exempt from following the ADA.

And now you are talking about construction accommodation, which is something that is permanent. Since a building is required to be wheelchair accessable, when the accommodations are made they are permanent. That means they will be there for someone entering the building no matter what their purpose is. They don't have to be provided separately.

When you talk about a terp, it is not a construction issue. Most places don't keep terps permanently on staff the way a wheelchair ramp is built into the design of a building. And they don't necessarily have to provide a terp...the law says "reasonable accommodation". That means that they could provide a print brochure describing the tour. Like I said, you can request a terp, but reasonable accommodation is all that is required by law. The place can also provide a terp and add the fee into the fee charged for providing the area or additional services for a private party.

DURAY

zoos are places of public accommodation. regardless of whether they are the recipient of federal financial assistance. see ADA Home Page - ada.gov - Information and Technical Assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and DisabilityInfo.gov: Disability related information and resources from the Federal Government
many zoos have deaf awareness day, like the Baltimore aquarium. Saturday May 30 at King's Dominion, they will have a Deaf awareness day, with most shows interrpeted.
faire-jous, ask if your local zoo can set up a day for deaf people to come. The zookeepers can give a tour, but the terps cannot interprete the animals' sounds.....

JClarke

Down here in Australia, not unless someone else corrects me, but I am not 100% sure, but believed it is. It is the law, that deaf people NEVER to pick up the tab for interpreters here. They are government funded, but if it is a business or whatnot, their responisble to cover it, no matter what.

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