education driver class; violate ada law?

Alrighty, Ive been seeking the driver education course to complete my license however my friends recommended me Best Academy due to "better" service providing in my local.

I spoken with one gentleman on phone about the service and fees. I informed him that I am deaf resident and have accommodate. He then felt that i am ineligible to receive the service due to disabled and his ignorant thoughts of unable to teaching deaf persons just cause he seems assumed that deafs cant learn normal way as hearies. "special ed"


I ,again, said: having an interpretor aint no problem for me to learning as well as another deaf people taking public driver education courses with an interpretor and went well as usually.

I need a legal advice since its violating the ADA law right? It also is my first time doing this.

p.s my apologize if bad english

-james

Yep, it's discrimination all right. Better contact an attorney.

I am not surprised about it, sighs. I guess I am going to contact an attorney right now. Ill keep this thread updated. Thank you, Banjo.

Can you look for a Drivers Education company that offers ASL ?

In my city we have 2 Drives Education companies (that take you out in a car and teach you to drive) that have ASL using instructors.


I thought that if a business is very small (less than 15 employees??) they DO NOT have to follow ADA ... or has that changed?

yes, it's discrimination. He need to let the DMV decide if you are capable of driving or not, not him. If you passed the test to have a learner (I had to take a written test to get a learner, then a both written and driving test to get my license). I hired a private driver ed because I felt they can teach me better beccause they can take over the steering wheels and brake if I misunderstood them.

I see that you reside in Maryland. There should be quite plentiful of deaf service especially driver ed. Some driver ed schools have deaf-friendly instructors. That's where you should look for. Don't bother with the one who is ignorant.

Sue them so you can get a new license with your first dream car at sametime.

Jiro said:

I see that you reside in Maryland. There should be quite plentiful of deaf service especially driver ed. Some driver ed schools have deaf-friendly instructors. That's where you should look for. Don't bother with the one who is ignorant.

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Yes, thats correct however unfortunate i living in Southern Maryland area which has fewest deaf residents in my local, like 5 elder deafies.

All I know is at northern maryland, it takes me about 1 to 2 hours to get there? No thank you, I dont want to spending even more expenses which i could of save 200 dollars by going in local. Its unfair.

yes, it's discrimination. He need to let the DMV decide if you are capable of driving or not, not him. If you passed the test to have a learner (I had to take a written test to get a learner, then a both written and driving test to get my license). I hired a private driver ed because I felt they can teach me better beccause they can take over the steering wheels and brake if I misunderstood them.

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DMV permitted me a learner but they asked me to go driver ed course to complete the license and be on my own.

And forget to mention that i made a call for an attorney, they asked me to expected hearing back from them tomorrow about providing attorney/interpretor/expense/such before proceeding to work on case against "BEST Academy Driving ed" company.

dark said:

DMV permitted me a learner but they asked me to go driver ed course to complete the license and be on my own.

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I know that if you are under certain age, you have to go for a driver ed course. When I had my license, I was 21, so it wasn't required for me to take it. I could get my husband to teach me if I wanted to, but I didn't. The only requirement was that I have to have a car, and I didn't have one . my private driver teacher usually loan his car so his students could get a their driver license without owning a car, and that's what he did for me.

Very expensive, but it was worth every money because it made my life easier.

Ohhh Southern MD...definitely a different world from Northern MD.

They are wrong for doing this.

This is nothing new. No matter where you go, there will always be somebody think you "can't" do it. When you go to a place to sign up for driving classes, defensive classes, etc and they wont provide an terp, ask to see a supervisor nicely. If they won't, be sure to document that and get the person name who refused. If supervisor also refuse, then collect names, dates, time etc and then go see an attorney. You have to show the class you "need" to take is better for you then another place that will cause you hardship IE: ASL classes too far away, and they need to show some sort of reasonable accommodation for you IE: terps. Do not settle for note taking or something similar since they do have ASL classes and its needs to be to par whats"standard out there".

Remember, be firm, use polite manners at all time, they will be more willing to help you and when they don't, they cannot use your bad attitude as their defense as why they cannot let you in their classes. Who wants someone who are rude, disruptive in thier classes??

I dropped the case against the BEST since my attorney spoken with owner of the "BEST Academy Driver Education" company. He has lack of knowledges nor aware of how to deal with deaf resident like me. he apologized for his ignorant stereotypical ethic toward me.

However he willingness to provide me the courses along with interpreter which is good.