Can they legally refuse me an interpreter?

shel90 said:
I have known of cases like these where the lawyer doenst require a fee up front. It depends on the lawyer but there is a deaf advocacy group..NAD (National Association for the Deaf). Home - National Association of the Deaf

Contact them and see what they suggest..maybe they have lawyers on contract for situations like these.

Good luck!
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Yes GOOD LUCK getting help from a groupie thats like 500K buckaroos down the crater!

Richard
 
Jasin, Good luck on Monday.. Let us know whats going on. They are wrong for what they did to you!!
 
What's the state and city (or nearest large city, if you're uncomfortable stating which city it is in for privacy/anonimity reasons) That way, we can point you to some local resources who will be able to advocate for you for classroom interpreting.

Have you documented your requests for assistance? In other words, do you have ANYTHING IN WRITING from them promising or guaranteeing that they would give you interpreters? A promise is a promise. Even a written record of you making requests via email would be good, but have it DOCUMENTED somewhere.

What would most likely happen is this:

1) You will take your info to the advocacy center
2) They will help you make the case to the college
3) YOU will give the college a deadline when to comply (I would state no more than 1 week from when you give official notice)
4) At the same time, schedule an appointment with a lawyer that either the advocacy center recommends, or that you find specialises in disability or accessibility law. Make sure you state that you want a free initial consultation. Schedule the appointment for the day after the deadline, cancel it if the school complies on time.
5) Go to the appointment if the school does NOT comply ON TIME. Tell the lawyer your case, and make sure you tell him about your financial situation. The more info they have, the more they can give you an initial consultation to your satisfaction. You may get a referral to another lawyer who can handle your financial situation -- don't despair, and DON'T commit to a lawyer unless you really, really, REALLY like what they can do for you (financially, solution wise, and timeline).
 
I can't see the sense why they reject to provide you an interpreter. Did you ask them what's the reason they reject an interpreter?

I would suggest you to demand them for their reason in writing why they reject an interpreter then you can forward their writing to ADA or lawyer then they will know what they can help you.
 
jasin said:
I agree with you Jillio, shortage or not the law is the law.
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jasin,

I'm a reporter on campus at my university, I suggest you contact the Pullayap newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune, the Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer and all other news media outlets. You also need to get cracking on filing the complaints on the ADA violations and the sooner you even contact the news media, the better. PM me if you want me to contact them for you and pull a few strings.
 
Okay good news, after fighting with the head of the disability office :rl: and siking the ASL professor on them I finally got an interpreter. :dance2:

The Interpreter can't start until Thursday though :|, so I’ll just have to tuff it out until then.

Thanks everyone :h5::h5:
 
pek1 said:
jasin,

I'm a reporter on campus at my university, I suggest you contact the Pullayap newspaper, the Tacoma News Tribune, the Seattle Times/Post Intelligencer and all other news media outlets. You also need to get cracking on filing the complaints on the ADA violations and the sooner you even contact the news media, the better. PM me if you want me to contact them for you and pull a few strings.
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I will definitly contact the media, thanks for the suggestion.
 
jasin said:
Okay good news, after fighting with the head of the disability office :rl: and siking the ASL professor on them I finally got an interpreter. :dance2:

The Interpreter can't start until Thursday though :|, so I’ll just have to tuff it out until then.

Thanks everyone :h5::h5:
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Glad things are working our for you jasin.
 
Why you had to fight this tooth and nail is beyond me.
 
Although they would never admit it, having worked in the disability services office of a university, and listening to some of the administrative attitudes, the reason is usally financial. Of course,that is illegal, so they will find any other excuse they can to justify the dealy.
 
They can legally refuse an interpreter if there's an interpreter shortage. That's the sweet message we've been getting from the legal communities in St. Paul, San Diego, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, and just about any other location that has a VRS call center established.

Looking into the case of University of Massachusetts, Boston, Case No. 01-90-2067 (OCR Region I 1991) (upholding university's decision not to provide interpreter based on shortage of interpreters in Boston area). The ADA law makes it clear that the interpreter shortages becomes a legal excuse for not getting interpreters.

Richard
 
congrats, jasin!! way to not take it from the Man sitting down and rolling over :)
 
Nesmuth said:
They can legally refuse an interpreter if there's an interpreter shortage. That's the sweet message we've been getting from the legal communities in St. Paul, San Diego, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, and just about any other location that has a VRS call center established.

Looking into the case of University of Massachusetts, Boston, Case No. 01-90-2067 (OCR Region I 1991) (upholding university's decision not to provide interpreter based on shortage of interpreters in Boston area). The ADA law makes it clear that the interpreter shortages becomes a legal excuse for not getting interpreters.

Richard
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The colleges in our area will get a terp even when it means commuting 100 miles (each way) every day for the terp. We've done it.
 
Nesmuth said:
They can legally refuse an interpreter if there's an interpreter shortage. That's the sweet message we've been getting from the legal communities in St. Paul, San Diego, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Boston, and just about any other location that has a VRS call center established.

Looking into the case of University of Massachusetts, Boston, Case No. 01-90-2067 (OCR Region I 1991) (upholding university's decision not to provide interpreter based on shortage of interpreters in Boston area). The ADA law makes it clear that the interpreter shortages becomes a legal excuse for not getting interpreters.

Richard
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And I believe that case has been challenged and overturned.
 
jillio said:
And I believe that case has been challenged and overturned.
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Unless I see the cite, I have to say you're bluffing. Its a practice thats continued even today not to mention the interpreter shortage meets the definition of hardship.

Richard
 
Nesmuth said:
Unless I see the cite, I have to say you're bluffing. Its a practice thats continued even today not to mention the interpreter shortage meets the definition of hardship.

Richard
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You're such a paragon of insensitivity, Richard; she said she "....believed....".
 
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